FIGHTING MINER FATIGUE ON UNUSUAL WORK SCHEDULES: A Management Perspective

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FIGHTING MINER FATIGUE ON UNUSUAL WORK
SCHEDULESA Management Perspective

• Jon Wagner, Mine Safety Instructor
• Hibbing Community College

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WHAT ARE UNUSUAL WORK SCHEDULES?

• Anything other than M-F Day Shift, 40 hours per
  week.
• Night work (during hours normally reserved for
  sleep).
• Rotating shift work.
• Extended work day schedules (regular 10- or
  12-hour shifts). Based on 40-hour week.
• Extended workweek schedules (regular 50- to
  80-hour workweeks).

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EXTENDED WORKWEEK SCHEDULES
1) Seen in some coal operations growing in
surface nonmetal operations ---highway
construction. 2) Why used? a) Increase
production without buying more
equipment. b) Labor shortage/labor costs. c)
Make up for seasonal layoff. d) Urban locations
-- constrained by noise
ordinances. Example 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. 3) Is
there a problem with extended workweek schedules?
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MINE SAFETY RESEARCH
FATIGUE ERRORS ACCIDENTS INJURIES FATALITIES
Shiftwork, Extended Workday Schedules
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ACCIDENT CAUSATION MODEL
Worries?
Illness?
Boredom?
Lack of sleep?
Shift work?
Vibration?
Noise?
FATIGUE INATTENTIVENESS UNALERTNESS
(42- 56)
Alcohol? Drugs?
Age?
HUMAN ERROR (85)
ACCIDENTS
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SOME FACTS ABOUT FATIGUE...
1) Fatigue is loss of physical, mental, or
emotional energy due to time on task. 2)
Fatigue causes declines in performance and
increased errors, accidents, and injuries. 3)
Fatigue depends on type of task
performed... -Vehicle operation (powered
haulage) -Manual materials handling -Maintenanc
e work -Office/computer work -Supervision
of greatest concern
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SOME RESEARCH RESULTS
1) Accident risk for truck drivers working 14
hours or more is 2.5 - 3.0 times higher than
those working 10 hours or less. 2) Risky passing
maneuvers occurred 50 more during last 3
hours of a 12-hour shift, compared to the first 3
hours. 3) Half of all hazardous incidents at a
company railroad occurred during last 4 hours
of a 12-hour shift. 4) In general, long work
hours can present a hazard for those workers
who have jobs requiring steady vigilance.
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MORE RESEARCH RESULTS...
Accidents
0
5
10
Hours driven
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THE BOTTOM LINE...

• To work safely, workers need a consistent work
  schedule that allows for adequate rest, sleep,
  and social time during off hours.
• To work safely, workers need to avoid excessive
  noise, dust, vibration, heat, cold, and other
  environmental stressors. This is important for
  reducing fatigue and preventing occupational
  illnesses.
• To work safely, workers need to be able to
  change pace and/or take work breaks to avoid
  fatigue. Doing the same thing, the same way, at
  the same rate can be deadly.
• To work safely, workers must operate in an
  environment that provides the right amount of
  mental stimulation. Excessive boredom is as
  dangerous as excessive stress!

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WHAT CAN MANAGEMENT DO?
There are some things managers can do to reduce
the fatigue hazard in our mines... 1) CHANGE THE
NATURE OF THE JOB 2) CHANGE THE JOB
ENVIRONMENT 3) PROVIDE TRAINING TO ENHANCE
COPING SKILLS 4) CHANGE THE WORK SCHEDULE
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CHANGING THE NATURE OF THE JOB

• Allow equipment swaps.
• Vary the haulage route or task.
• Encourage exercise breaks.

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CHANGING THE JOB ENVIRONMENT
1) Install air conditioning. a) Control
temperatures, reduce fatigue. b) Reduce dust
exposure. c) Reduce noise exposure. 2) Provide
one- and two-way radios. 3) Reduce noise and
vibration. a) Improved seating b) Improved
mufflers, cab acoustics 4) Provide facilities for
hot meals, vending machines for healthy
snacks and beverages.
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Providing Training to Enhance Coping Skills

• Weight Control and Nutrition
• Fitness and Aerobic Exercise
• Drug and Alcohol Counseling, Employee Assistance
  Programs
• Smoking Cessation
• Sleep Strategies

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Options For Changing the Work Schedule

• 1) Lengthen the period of rotation.
• 2) Change from Backward rotation (Days to Nights
  to
• Afternoons) to Forward rotation (Days to
  Afternoons
• to Nights).
• 3) Allow some permanent night workers.
• 4) Use rapid rotation (1 or 2 shifts before
  rotating)
• where safety is not a major concern and
  errors can
• be tolerated.

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How to Change a Work Schedule

• 1) Construct a company-wide committee.
• 2) Evaluate schedule-related work problems,
  worker
• needs, and operational issues.
• a) Surveys and diaries
• b) Brainstorming sessions
• c) Consultants
• 3) Determine social and operational
  requirements.
• 4) Design alternative work schedules.
• 5) Evaluate the alternative work schedules.

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Evaluating Work Schedules

• Circadian Rhythms?
• (Daily Biological Rhythms)
• Easily Accepted?
• Operational Needs?
• Weekends Off?
• Supervision?
• Seniority Rights?
• Commuting Time?

• Day Care Available?
• Social Time?
• Labor Costs?
• Legal Requirements?
• Easy to Remember?
• Training Time?
• Trading Shifts?
• Cover Absentees?

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How to Change a Work Schedule

• 6) Choose three alternatives for a vote.
• 7) Make the change -- then evaluate.
• a) Surveys and diaries
• b) Brainstorming sessions
• c) Consultants
• 8) Inform your workers about the evaluation
  results.
• 9) Decide to keep, reject, or modify the
  schedule.
• 10) Train workers and their families on how to
  cope with
• shift work.
• 11) Reevaluate the schedule periodically.

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Key Factors in Adjustment

• Some miners will handle extended workweek
  schedules better than others. Some of the key
  factors are.....
• 1) Age (changes occur in mid-40s)
• 2) General health, fitness, and obesity
• 3) Introversion vs. extroversion
• 4) Sleep flexibility vs. rigidity
• 5) Social orientation -- weekly activity
  planning
• vs. daily activity planning
• 6) Social time vs. sleep time priorities
• 7) Age of children

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Another Potential Problem Unplanned Overtime

• What happens when there is an absence? Do you
  double-out? Suggestion Split the overtime
  shift whenever possible.
• EXAMPLE Curly works days (7 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• Moe works afternoons (3 p.m. - 11 p.m.)
• Larry works nights (11 p.m. - 7 a.m.)
• PROBLEM Moe calls in sick was poked in the eye.
• What to do?
• SOLUTION Curly works 4 extra hours, and Larry
• comes in 4 hours early. This prevents the
• problem of working 16 hours straight.

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Therefore....

• As we increase work hours, managers must take
  care to prevent worker fatigue due to
• chronic sleep deprivation,
• overexposures to environmental stressors, and
• excessive boredom or excessive work pressures.
• Remember, fatigue can supply the human error
  link which will allow accidents, injuries, and
  fatalities to occur. Can you think of ways to
  reduce the fatigue risk on your properties?