We could if we can help improve mental and physical wellbeing for everyone.
SMEs create many new job opportunities and drive innovation. They contribute heavily to the growth and development of various public and private sectors such as government, health, energy, financial services, manufacturing, agriculture, retail, telecoms and other service sectors.
SMEs depend on innovation and business continuity in order to survive.
SMEs play a very crucial role in economic development with innovation, ideas and skills, as well as driving employment creation and, when big industries downsize and cut down jobs, SMEs keep developing and creating more jobs. However, the continuous pressure to innovate and develop new products and services can result in pressure on the workforce, both at home and at work, resulting in disruption, mental stress and fatigue.
So, to maintain a healthy and productive workforce all round means addressing occupational health and safety, managing the physical and mental hazards of the workplace and, understanding when people need help when fatigued and under external pressures.
Is worker fatigue a hidden danger to innovation and growth.
Yes, because anyone turning up for work and not being able to perform at full capacity costs the UK economy an estimated £50 billion in lost production and approximately 200,000 lost working days annually. 69% of workers report feeling “tired” at work, according to a report focusing on “safety-critical industries” while 13% of injuries sustained in the workplace can be attributed to worker fatigue, according to research. Fatigue is a hidden danger for employers and their employees. Anyone who is fatigued and is less focused at work, could make costly mistakes and possibly create latent and active errors.
Latent errors are the missed ones inherent in the system e.g. system design, administrative decisions, quality of equipment and supplies that may take time to materialise, making it be costly and highly disruptive to rectify. Active error is the actual event at the time that results in mistakes that could seriously harm, cause a catastrophe or significant financial loss and interrupt business continuity.
However, initiative-taking employers can reduce the impact of fatigue on their workplace.
Anyone who has physically demanding, or mentally taxing profession should have the opportunity to gain more experience and learn about the effects of fatigue. They should be provided with training and education by businesses to understand and grasp more about worker fatigue both remote and on site, and how it impacts on their own personal wellbeing as well as others.
Information should be accessible 24/7 for new training and any updated refresher training. This is part of the employer’s duty of care to keep their workers safe by ensuring they can access the learning materials to help them understand and continue to learn more about how to manage worker fatigue. This will enable everyone to learn how fatigue can impact on their mental wellbeing, health, safety and performance at work.
It is important to educate and engage.
It is important that SMEs identify and meet individual learner needs. This is because it allows them to be supportive and considerate. In this way, the employees will be motivated, supported, empowered, and developed because they feel supported by the employer to develop their understanding of fatigue rather than lose interest in learning how they can manage it.
‘Worker Fatigue’ is an online learning course being developed by e-Aspire and explores the critical issue of worker fatigue and its far-reaching impact on individuals, organisations, and society as a whole. Worker Fatigue examines the causes of fatigue, its symptoms, and its consequences for both individuals and workplaces. It will help participants to be better equipped to identify and mitigate worker fatigue leading to safer and more productive working environments.
Find out more:
01772 651555
07733 230005
e-Aspire.online
