Fatigue and Workplace Accidents

Workplace accidents happen for many reasons. The good news is that you don’t need to prove fault to receive benefits. The bad news is employers can still do more to help prevent accidents such as helping workers get enough rest. To assert your right to work injury benefits in Delaware, call Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in Wilmington, Newark, or Seaford for help.

Fatigue makes many types of workplace accidents more likely.

• Truck drivers (construction, cross-country, or just in Delaware) are at risk of losing control over their vehicle which can cause a truck accident.
• Any worker who works with machines and equipment may not use the machines correctly when they’re tired. This fatigue can cause amputations, falls from heights, and other injuries – or even death.
• Tired workers are more likely to wrench their back, drop a heavy item, or make mistakes if they’re tired.

According to the National Safety Council, about 40% of workers don’t get enough sleep. Many night shift workers complain they’re too tired.

Reasons workers become tired

Some of the causes of workplace fatigue include:

• Being pressured to meet unreasonable productivity levels
• Doing work that is strenuous
• Just not getting enough hours of sleep
• Working overtime
• Long commutes
• Excessive heat or extreme cold
• Constant changes in work schedules

Many health care workers, especially during the pandemic, are working extremely long hours. The same holds true for essential workers. Workers who are on-call often don’t get enough sleep. Truck drivers are supposed to get regular rests (it’s the law) but many truck drivers keep driving instead of resting/sleeping.

Tired workers have difficulties with concentration, balance, response times, and hand-eye coordination. Some of the signs of workplace fatigue are irritability, yawning and sleepiness, lack of energy, making mistakes, difficulty focusing, migraines and headaches, and increased time off from work due to illnesses.

Some of the ways to address workplace fatigue

Employers and supervisors can help workers like you get the rest they need by implementing any or all of the following:

• Steady shift schedules. Workers are generally more rested if they work the same schedule each work shift and get routine breaks during their shifts. It helps when you get two days off in a row.
• Better workforce planning. Using more workers for difficult jobs and having more staff when the workloads get heavy.
• Healthy workplace conditions. Workplaces should have the right temperature, natural light, and minimal noise.
• Proper training. Training managers and workers to understand the signs of workplace fatigue can help reduce accidents.

Just a moment’s loss of concentration can cause a worker to fall, to drop something, to get into a truck crash, to lose an arm, or to suffer any type of workplace accident. At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our dedicated Delaware workers’ compensation lawyers have the experience and resources to help injured employees obtain the worker’s compensation benefits they deserve. Benefits include disability pay and payment of all reasonable medical expenses. Some workers may be entitled to vocational rehabilitation. To review your work injury case with a skilled lawyer, please call us at 302.314.2319 or use our contact form to discuss your claim. We have offices in Wilmington, Newark, and Seaford.