Responsible Fatigue Management

Fatigue and sleep are inextricably linked

• Inadequate or poor quality sleep affects a person’s energy level, causes tiredness and has a large impact on overall health and wellbeing.
• Fatigue is four times more likely to contribute to workplace Impairment than drugs or alcohol (Managing Fatigue in transport. Aust. House of Representatives Committee Report 2000)
• Driver fatigue is a factor in up to 25% of accidents.

Fatigue: the risks

• Fatigue resulting from sleep deprivation and/or associated conditions is the most frequently-cited medical factor in naval aviation mishaps
   
• In 2004 sleep disorders cost Australia $10.3 billion
   

• Stress, discomfort and Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are the main factors which cause poor sleep.
  
  
  

OSA: the hidden workplace risks

• Women with OSA syndrome have a three-fold risk of occupational accidents while for men the risk increases by 50%.
• People most often affected by fatigue are those who have sleep disorders-the most common disorder is sleep apnea.
• Performance of drivers with OSA is equivalent to the performance of drivers with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) measuring 0.089.
• Up to 28% of commercial driver's license holders have some degree of OSA.
• A person with OSA is 4-6 times more likely to have a car accident than a person without OSA.
   

OSA- associated diseases

• • More than 33% of people with hypertension and more than 80% of people with drug-resistant hypertension have OSA.
• A person with OSA is 70% more likely to have a stroke than a person without OSA. OSA sufferers are three times more likely to have type 2 diabetes.
• 50% of people with congestive heart failure have OSA"
• Safety risk increases in shift workers with OSA.
   

OSA is easy to diagnose

• At SleepMed Australia, we offer sleep studies which are quickly organised without a waiting list, costs are mostly covered by Medicare and can be done conveniently take to be worker’s home or sleep environment. Results are available within 1 week.
  

OSA is easily and safely treated

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is the mostly widely accepted treatment. This is a device which gently delivers air through a mask. The pressure acts like an 'air splint' to keep the upper airway open.
• If the OSA is not severe, the person has several options including a specially made dental splint. The treatment works quickly and the person will experience rapid and sustained improvements in their quality of life
• Absenteeism also diminishes, as performance and mood improves. As a result, accident rates and costs are reduced.
  

Common OSA symptoms

• Snoring
• Waking up feeling unrefreshed
• Excessive sleepiness and fatigue during waking hours
• Poor concentration and memory problems
• Depression
• High blood pressure
   

SleepMed’s simple A-Link screening program

• Apnealink is, a simple screening device which we offer for FREE to workers of interested companies. In conjunction with a proper, medical specialist-led program which we have, based on sound research, this can detect who may have sleep apnoea.
• SleepMed can offer businesses interested in responsible fatigue management, comprehensive courses and packages in order to improve workers sleep related fatigue. Please call our main office in Central Park, Perth City on 1300 484 707.