Health, Safety and SecurityFatigue Risk Management for Shift Operations
Fatigue degrades judgement in the way alcohol does and is treated as a personal failing rather than an operational hazard, despite being produced by rosters the organisation designed. This course treats it as a hazard to be managed. Delegates work through sleep, circadian rhythm and why a night shift worker does not adapt as often assumed, roster design and the features that accumulate fatigue including rapid rotation, long runs and short breaks between shifts, and commuting, which is where many fatigue fatalities actually occur. Workload and task timing are covered, since some work should not be scheduled at four in the morning. Fatigue reporting and self assessment tools follow, along with a culture where reporting is safe. The course closes on incident investigation and on measuring the programme.
Course objectives
- Explain sleep, circadian rhythm and the limits of night shift adaptation
- Assess a roster for the features that accumulate fatigue
- Address commuting risk after a shift
- Schedule demanding tasks away from the worst hours
- Implement fatigue reporting and self assessment tools
- Build a culture where reporting fatigue is safe
- Investigate fatigue in incidents and measure the programme
Who should attend
- HSE and occupational health practitioners
- Shift supervisors and rostering staff
- Human resources staff designing shift patterns
- Operations managers on continuous plant
- Transport and mining operations personnel
Course outline
- 01A rostering decision, not a personal failing
- 02Sleep and circadian rhythm
- 03Night shift and the limits of adaptation
- 04Roster features that accumulate fatigue
- 05Commuting after shift
- 06Workload and task timing
- 07Reporting and self assessment tools
- 08Investigation, culture and measurement
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 to 3 November 2026 | Windhoek, Namibia | Classroom | R11,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 29 to 30 December 2026 | Lagos, Nigeria | Classroom | USD 795 per delegate | Register Now |
| 1 to 2 March 2027 | Online | Online | R6,500 per delegate | Register Now |