Fatigue: The Most Critical Accident Risk

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

Dr Margaret Chan

The Effect of Fatigue

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Challenges of the modern 24/7 Industries

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Introduction

“Fatigue: The Hidden Enemy”.

Outcome of Presentation › Current challenges facing organisation and the WHS practitioners › The danger of fatigue - the current knowledge

- the new findings › The implication of fatigue and the ohs law - 1 Jan 2012

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The Challenges facing OHS Practitioner

› Safe Workplace

› OHS legislative Compliance › Incident and accident prevention › Training: • Behaviour based training • Leadership training • How to follow safety procedure • How to use construction equipment and tools safely

The Danger of fatigue: Current Knowledge Fatigue and Blood Alcohol Content

 Fatigue could result in performance impairment equivalent to, or greater than 0.1% of blood alcohol concentration

(BAC) - a level that is deemed unacceptable for driving or operating dangerous equipment.

 Fatigue is also 4 xs more likely to contribute to workplace accidents than drugs or alcohol. (Lamond and Dawson 1999) 8

Fatigue and Accident Relationship Historical Example  Grounding of Exxon Valdez on Bligh Reef in Alaska on 24 March 1989.

 Fatigue (F) => Accident (A) 9

The Myth of Fatigue

› Catch up on your sleep › Drink Red Bull or herbal tea › Pop the pills e.g. diazepam

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The Danger of Fatigue: The Key Findings

1. Fatigue as the leading accident risk 2. Fatigue as the trigger risk to a bundle of other synergetic risks 3. Fatigue as lynchpin to accident mitigation

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The Research Multibillion-dollar Construction Projects:

› Ethylene Cracker Complex › LNG and receiving terminals › Petroleum natural gas plants

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Risk Associated with Oil and Gas Projects construction

• • • •

Shift work Confined space Hot works Underground tunnelling 13

Fatigue as the leading risk Risk Items 78

1. Fatigue 59

2. Failure to follow safety procedure 3. Lack safety knowledge

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4. Improper use of equipment

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5. Fire and explosion

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6. Defective equipment

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7. Inadequate workplace layout

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8. Failure to use PPE

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9. Inadequate communication

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10. Emotional disturbances

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10

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50

60

70

80

90

Percentage 14

Fatigue as the trigger risk: Explanation Current Finding:

Fatigue (F) => Accident (A)

New Finding: {F + R + R2 + R3 + R3 … ∞}=> A 1

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Fatigue as the trigger risk to a bundle of other exogenous risk 17 Exogenous Risk › R1. Failure to follow safety procedure

› R .Distracted by other concerns

› R2. Improper use of equipment › R3. Fire or explosion

› R . Restricted range of body movement

› R4. Use of defective equipment

› R . Frustration

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› R5. Failure to wear PPE

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› R . Emotional Overload 13

› R6. Inadequate supervisor-worker

› R . Inadequate reinforcement of safe behaviour 14

communication › R7. Emotional disturbance

› R . Inadequate practice of skill 15

› R8. Improper use of tools › R9. Improper use of PPE

› R . Inadequate knowledge transfer 16

› R . Lack of coaching in skill 17

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Fatigue as Accident Relationship

I was on .. weekend night shift. At 3.00 a.m., I felt drowsy and physically ‘drained’ …working on a double shift. I took a short cut due to time pressure during the commissioning of the gas-in and gas-out. At the same time my mind drifted to my family back home and how I missed them. I do not know why I turned on the safety valve of the gas tank even though there was a safety signage which indicated ‘DO NOT TOUCH’. Furthermore, my supervisor did not warn me that methane gas could catch fire easily. Immediately, methane gas escaped and my workplace caught fire, followed by an explosion. 17

Risk Description and Categorisation No

Description

Risk Category

Risk

1.

I was on the weekend night shift. At about 3.00 a.m., I felt drowsy and physically ‘drained’. I was working on a double shift.

Physical fatigue

F

2.

I took a short cut due to time pressure during commissioning of gas-in and gas-out. I also took off my gas mask because it was cumbersome.

Failure to follow safety procedure. Failure to use PPE.

R1

4.

Besides, my supervisor didn’t reinforce the need to wear PPE all the time.

Inadequate supervisor worker communication).

R6

5.

At the same time my mind drifted to my family back home and how I missed them.

Distracted by other concerns and emotional distress. I do not know why I turned on the safety valve of the gas tank even Failure to follow safety though there was a safety signage which indicated ‘DO NOT procedure. TOUCH’. Furthermore, my supervisor did not warn me that methane gas Inadequate supervisor could catch fire easily worker communication / lack of safety knowledge of hazard presents

R10 R7

Immediately, methane gas escaped and my workplace caught fire, followed by an explosion.

R3

3.

6.

7.

8.

Unsafe work condition

R5

R1

R6 R17

The New Findings F (I was physically tired) + R10(I did not follow safety procedure) R7(…my mind drifted..) + R5 (.. took off my gas mask..) => A (the place caught fire)

F (physical fatigue) + R7 (distraction) + R10 (failure to follow safety procedure) + R3(did not use PPE) + ………=> accidents.

Fatigue as the trigger risk: Example 1 F + R + R + R + R ……=> A 7

• 87% confidence • Lift 1.74 (>1)

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3

3

Distraction (R10)

Fatigue (Rf)

Violation of safety procedure (R7)

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An Example {F+R1+R10+R2+R8+R5+R9+R7+R6} => A

Distraction (R10)

Improper use of equipment (R2) Improper use of tools(R8)

BAC 0.10%

Emotional overload (R7)

Inadequate communication (R6)

Fatigue (F) Improper use of PPE(R9)

Failure to follow safety procedure (R1)

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An Example {F+R1+R10+R2+R8+R5+R9+R7+R6} => A

Distraction (R10)

Improper use of equipment (R2) Improper use of tools(R8)

BAC 0.10%

Emotional overload (R7)

Inadequate communication (R6)

Fatigue (F) Improper use of PPE(R9)

Failure to follow safety procedure (R1)

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The Domino Effect One man’s fatigue could trigger a chain of events leading to a workplace accident

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fatigue

Fatigue as the lynchpin

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The Swiss Cheese Effect

R2 R7

R10

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Summary

Fatigue is

Fatigue is more than just sleep deficit!

1. leading accident risk 2. trigger risk to a bundle of other synergetic risks 3. lynchpin to accident reduction

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Fatigue and its implication

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Fatigue and its implications

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Fatigue and the hidden cost

Duty of workers and others/Fatigue and legal obligations › Workers

- Must take reasonable care for themselves and others - Must comply with any reasonable instruction, policy or procedure › Other persons at the workplace - Duty similar to workers

Who is a worker? A person who carries out work for a person conducting a business or undertaking in any capacity, including as: • Employee • Contractor or subcontractor • Employee of a contractor or subcontractor • Employee of labour hire company • Outworker • Apprentice or trainee • Student on work experience • Volunteer

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Acknowledgements Research Partners

Companies

Managing Contractors

› BP

› Amec

› Mobile Exxon

› Bechtel

› Shell

› Foster Wheeler

› Woodside LNG

› Leighton › Siapem

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Questions and Answers

Dr Margaret Chan Article in Sydney Morning Herald Supplementary Section Friday 28 October 2011

Questions and Answers

Dr Margaret Chan [email protected] Mobile: 0404752037

Principal Consultant

Benchmark OHS Consulting Pty Ltd [email protected]