NSC Survey Finds 90 Percent of Employers Negatively Impacted by Employee Fatigue

NSC Survey Finds 90 Percent of Employers Negatively Impacted by Employee Fatigue

According to the council, 13 percent of workplace injuries can be attributed to fatigue. In the survey report, NSC identifies night shift and overtime scheduling, a lack of time off between shifts, and inadequate rest areas for employees within the workplace as some of the factors contributing to worker fatigue.

  • Jun 18, 2018

A survey by the National Safety Council found 90 percent of U.S. employers have been negatively impacted by tired employees, with half reporting that they've had an employee fall asleep on the job. The survey report, Fatigue in the Workplace: Risky Employer Practices, was released June 13.

According to the survey, 57 percent of employers have experienced absenteeism. Another 32 percent reported injures and near-misses because of employee fatigue.

Fatigue is dangerous for employees' health and safety. According to NSC, 13 percent of workplace injuries can be attributed to fatigue. In the survey report, NSC identifies night shift and overtime scheduling, a lack of time off between shifts, and inadequate rest areas for employees within the workplace as some of the factors contributing to worker fatigue.

"This survey shows that employers are waking up to a hidden workplace hazard – too many employees are running on empty," NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman said. "Employees are an organization's greatest asset, and addressing fatigue in workplaces will help eliminate preventable deaths and injuries."

Ninety percent of employers surveyed said they will meet with a fatigued employee to try to understand the root causes for the fatigue, but only 55 percent said they would adjust an employee's work schedule or responsibilities as a result.

In addition to injury and health risks for employees, fatigue can affect an employer's bottom line. According to NSC's Fatigue Cost Calculator, an employer with 1,000 employees can expect to lose more than $1 million yearly in missed workdays, lower productivity, and increased health care as a result of employee fatigue.

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