In true 24/7 environments transportation, utilities, manufacturing, and mission-critical construction fatigue is a predictable hazard that degrades attention, slows reaction time, and raises incident likelihood. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration stresses that long or irregular hours increase error risk and that employers should control fatigue with schedule management, planned rest, task rotation, and environmental supports such as lighting, ventilation, and hydration access (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, n.d.). In commercial motor vehicle operations, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration links driver fatigue to preventable crashes and emphasizes Hours-of-Service adherence and training as cornerstones of a fatigue-risk management system. Beyond compliance, decades of research show extended shifts and overtime correlate with higher injuries and illnesses across sectors, underscoring why leadership must treat fatigue like any other controllable exposure (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2004). NIOSH’s current focus on fatigue and work schedules continues to translate these findings into practical prevention strategies for round-the-clock operations (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2024).

At Key Safety LLC, we build fatigue prevention into everyday operations. Our Document Development for Start-up Projects codifies rest thresholds, rotation templates, and clear malfunction/relief protocols for safety-critical roles. Service on Demand provides rapid shift-pattern audits, coaching for supervisors on early warning signs, and rollout support for Hours-of-Service or ELD changes. Regular Consultation Service tracks leading indicators near-miss patterns by time-of-day, overtime density, and break adherence so leaders can intervene before performance dips. Treating fatigue as a measurable hazard improves alertness, reduces incidents, and protects productivity in 24/7 systems.

References

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (2024, January 8). CMV driver fatigue and hours of service. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/driver-safety/cmv-driver-fatigue

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2004). Overtime and extended work shifts: Recent findings on illnesses, injuries, and health behaviors (NIOSH Publication No. 2004-143). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-143/pdfs/2004-143.pdf

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2024, August 8). Center for Work & Fatigue Research. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/centers/fatigue.html

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Long work hours, extended or irregular shifts, and worker fatigue Hazards. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/worker-fatigue/hazards

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.-b). Long work hours, extended or irregular shifts, and worker fatigue Prevention. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/worker-fatigue/prevention