Fatigue Warning Signs

06 June 2003

It is sometimes obvious to you when you are becoming fatigued. But there are a range of other signs that you might not normally notice. Some of these develop gradually and signify a level of fatigue that should not be ignored.

You know you are becoming fatigued if you have a combination of any of the following:
(1) You keep yawning

(2) You have difficulty keeping your head up or eyes open

(3) Your eyes feel sore or heavy

(4) Your vision starts to blur or dim

(5) You start 'seeing things'

(6) You find you're daydreaming, thinking of everything else but not your work

(7) You become impatient and make rash decisions

(8) You feel hungry or thirsty

(9) Your hands feel sweaty

(10) Your reactions seem slow

(11) You feel stiff or cramped

(12) If operating plant
- your operating speed creeps up or down
- you start making poor gear changes
- you begin to manouvre poorly
- you hear a droning or humming in your ears
- you don't notice other operators
- you don't remember what work you've done recently
When you notice some of the warning signs, it doesn't help your safety to brush them off as nothing. It is safer - if not essential - to take a break, sooner rather than later.