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Safety Policies & Programs


Fatigue Management

Policy Key Points

The purpose of this policy is to establish the requirements for managing fatigue. It is intended that this policy will reduce the risk of fatigue-related injuries and incidents in the workplace.

Yaskawa America, Inc. is committed to providing and maintaining safe systems of work for all our associates, including those whose work involves shifts work, extended hours or on-call arrangements. Yaskawa’s operations are sometimes undertaken outside ordinary working hours. Activities often involve shift work, extended hours and on-call arrangements. These working arrangements may contribute to fatigue if not managed appropriately.

Fatigue can be caused by both work and non-work related factors. 

Non-work factors include family responsibilities, social activities, health issues—such as sleep disorders— study commitments and sporting commitments. 

Work factors include shift work— especially night shift— and working extended hours. While everyone doesn’t respond to fatigue in the same way, fatigue can cause reduced concentration, impaired coordination, compromised judgement and slower reaction times, which ultimately increase the risk of incidents and injuries.

You must notify your supervisor if you are experiencing any signs of fatigue. 

Policy

Fatigue Management
Purpose and Scope of Policy

The purpose of this policy is to establish the requirements for managing fatigue. It is intended that this policy will reduce the risk of fatigue-related injuries and incidents in the workplace.

Yaskawa America, Inc. is committed to providing and maintaining safe systems of work for all our associates, including those whose work involves shifts work, extended hours or on-call arrangements. Yaskawa’s operations are sometimes undertaken outside ordinary working hours. Activities often involve shift work, extended hours and on-call arrangements. These working arrangements may contribute to fatigue if not managed appropriately.

Fatigue can be caused by both work and non-work related factors. Non-work factors include family responsibilities, social activities, health issues—such as sleep disorders— study commitments and sporting commitments. Work factors include shift work— especially night shift— and working extended hours. While everyone doesn’t respond to fatigue in the same way, fatigue can cause reduced concentration, impaired coordination, compromised judgement and slower reaction times, which ultimately increase the risk of incidents and injuries.

This policy applies to all Yaskawa associates - especially those whose work involves shift work, extended hours, and on-call arrangements.

Definitions

Employee Assistance
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides confidential counselling and support to staff and their families on a range of issues, such as alcohol and drug related problems, emotional stress, and relationship difficulties. It should not be used for counselling relating to an injury that is the subject of a workers’ compensation claim or as post-incident counselling following a traumatic incident in the workplace. Refer to the EAP policy for further details.
Extended Hours
Hours that are an extension of the standard working week, as a result of overtime, on-call arrangements or secondary employment.
Fatigue
A mental or physical exhaustion that prevents a person from functioning normally. In the work environment this can mean that a person is also unable to function safely. It has many causes, but is usually related to inadequate restorative sleep.
Restorative Sleep
The process by which the body overcomes fatigue. It involves cycles of deep sleep that allow a person to recuperate and wake up refreshed.
Shift Work
Work performed outside the hours between 6 am and 6 pm, Monday to Friday.
Sleep Cycles
Sleep cycles are determined by the body’s natural biological rhythms (also known as circadian rhythms or the ‘body clock’), which are repeated every 24 hours. As well as regulating sleep cycles, biological rhythms also regulate body temperature, digestion, and hormone levels.

Responsibilities

 All associates have the responsibility to ensure that fatigue does not impact the safety, health, and well-being of themselves and others.

Managers and Supervisors are responsible for:
  • Applying risk management in consultation with the EHS department and in accordance with this policy to analyze the risks of fatigue,
  • Ensuring systems of work that minimize the risk of fatigue - For example, providing ergonomically friendly equipment, reasonable staffing levels, reasonable overtime practices, and adequate recuperation between shifts,
  • Limiting work hours and/or controlling job rotation schedules to help control worker fatigue,
  • Providing opportunities for associates to obtain adequate rest from work including rest breaks to control fatigue and increase mental fitness,
  • Monitoring workloads, work patterns, and staffing levels to ensure associates are not placed at risk from fatigue,
  •  Consulting with associates when introducing new work schedules,
  • Providing information, instuction, and training about risks to health, safety, or welfare of associates involved with shift work, extended hours and on-call assignments,
  • Ensuring associates performing shift work and overtime are properly supervised and that tasks are undertaken safely. 
  • Referring associates with non-work fatigue related issues to the EAP.

All associates are responsible for:
  • Participating in risk management processes,
  • Using time off from work to recuperate to be fir and able for the next shift,
  • Participating in education and training to gain an understanding of fatigue,
  • Ensuring they do not chronically use over-the-counter or prescription drugs, or any other product which may affect their ability to perform their work safely,
  • If working on or near any of Yaskawa’s critical to safety process, report to their supervisor if they are taking any prescription of over-the-counter medicine that can create in balance, fatigue, sleepiness, or disorientation. These critical to safety processes are:
    • Working on or near live exposed electrical conductors,
    • Working on or near powered industrial trucks (e.g.:fork lifts, order pickers),
    • Working on or near overhead cranes,
    • Working on or near industrial tools (e.g.: power saws, grinders, mills),
    • Working on or near robots or manipulators, and
    • Driving
  • Avoiding behaviors and practices that contribute to fatigue and which could place themselves or others at risk, and
  • Recognizing signs of fatigue that could place the health, safety, and well-being of themselves or others at risk and reporting this to their manager or supervisor.

Results of Breaches of Policy

Breaching this policy may result in an injury to yourself or others. Breaches of this policy may result in disciplinary action being initiated in accordance with Yaskawa America, Inc.’s discipline policy.


Training

All associates shall be provided with training related to this policy including preventing, recognizing, and managing fatigue.


Records Related to this Policy

Record Retained by Retention Time

Revision History

Rev # Description Release Date Approved by
0 Initial Release 2/2/2023 Thurwanger

Program Review

Review Date Reviewed by Changes Required (Yes/No) Revision # if updated
1/16/2024 Thurwanger No
1/21/2025 Thurwanger No

Policy Video

Signs of Fatigue

Fatigue can:

  • Slow reaction times,
  • Reduce attention or concentration,
  • Limit short-term memory,
  • Impair judgment

There are approximately 11 different signs or “symptoms” of fatigue, and they can include mental, physical or subjective states. If you notice any of these signs, you likely are suffering from fatigue. It could be acute – a “one-off” related to workplace or home stress or a pressing deadline or project – or chronic, which means that you likely are suffering from a sleep disorder, prolonged periods of work and extended periods of stress.

    Mental state:
  1. Reduced mental capacity
  2. Inattentive
  3. Indecisive
    4. Physical State
  4. Physiological weakness or degradation
  5. Physically exhausted
  6. Weakness
    7. Subjective State
  7. Tired
  8. Drowsy or sleepy
  9. Weary
  10. Irritable

Notify your supervisor if you are experiencing any of these signs of fatigue - especially if you are expecting to perform any higher risk activities, such as:

  • Working on or near exposed live electrical conductors
  • Working on or near powered industrial vehicles
  • Working on or near overhead cranes
  • Operating industrial equipment, such as power saws and grinders
  • Working on or near industrial robots or manipulators
  • Driving