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Fatigue is a significant concern in workplaces today, with the National Safety Council (NSC) estimating that it contributes to around 13% of all workplace injuries. According to a 2019 NSC survey, more than 43% of U.S. employees reported feeling sleep-deprived and too fatigued to work effectively. By 2020, this number increased to 77%, highlighting a concerning trend, likely worsened by the pandemic, that’s impacting both productivity and safety.
The cost of fatigue to businesses is immense—over $136 billion annually in health-related lost productivity, averaging $1,200 to $3,100 per employee. Fatigue-related issues also lead to impaired decision-making, slower response times, and reduced mental alertness, all of which heighten the risk of workplace incidents.
Wearable Safety Tools: The Role of Technology in Fatigue Monitoring
Technology offers solutions for monitoring fatigue and enhancing safety, particularly through wearable devices that detect signs of tiredness. These devices use sensor technologies to monitor fatigue and impairment levels in real-time, helping prevent accidents before they happen. Here are three main types of fatigue-monitoring wearables:
1. EEG Sensors: Wearables that use electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain activity related to fatigue.
2. Visual Fatigue Detection: Devices equipped with cameras to detect signs like microsleeps and eye movement patterns.
3. Activity and Sleep Data: Wearables that track sleep patterns and daily activity to assess fatigue risk.
According to the 2020 NSC Safety Technology in the Workplace Survey, mining and utility sectors are especially interested in these technologies. In mining, 56% of workers endorsed wearables for reducing serious injuries, while 51% of utility workers shared this belief.
Future Applications of Wearable Technology
Exelon plans to use data from these trials to improve daily decision-making and assess the impact of longer shifts on cognitive and physiological performance. A broader review of this field was published in 2022: "Smart Wearables for the Detection of Occupational Physical Fatigue." This review highlights the potential of integrating AI into wearables to detect fatigue and prevent accidents, especially as technologies advance to overcome challenges in adoption.
Wearables are shaping up to be predictive tools with the power to safeguard health and productivity by addressing fatigue before it becomes a serious safety concern.
For more information on fatigue monitoring and if you would like to discuss, please visit our website or contact us at (800) 433-9819. At Cal Safety Solution, our mission is to keep your workplace safe and productive.
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