Authors
Sieber WK; Chen GX; Krueger GP; Lincoln JE; Menéndez CC; O'Connor MB
Source
Am J Ind Med 2022 Nov; 65(11):857-866
Abstract
Background: The transportation and utilities industries include establishments engaged in the movement of passengers and freight, or the provision of public power, water, and other services. Along with the warehousing industry, they make up the U.S. National Occupational Research Agenda's Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (TWU) industry sector. In 2018, the sector composed 5% of the U.S. workforce, with approximately 8 million workers. TWU workers experienced 19% of all fatalities among U.S. workers in 2018 and 7% of total occupational injuries and illnesses. Methods: Around-the-clock operations, heavy workloads, long and irregular shifts, complicated schedules, and time pressures characterize work across the U.S. TWU sector. However, there are considerable differences in worker priorities and concerns between TWU industries. Major areas of concern within the sector include disparities in work schedules; required training for employee fatigue awareness and prevention; physical and mental job demands; and safety culture. Results: Strategies for fatigue mitigation are critical to reduce the prevalence of injuries, safety-critical events, and crashes in TWU workers. Further research on the incidence and characterization of fatigue among TWU workers will guide the development of effective mitigation strategies. The influence of work scheduling on missed sleep opportunities and disrupted circadian rhythms should be determined. Evaluation of fatigue mitigation strategies can lead to the adoption of the most effective ones for each TWU industry. Conclusion: Implementation of effective strategies is critical for the health, safety, wellbeing, and productivity of workers in the TWU sector.
Keywords
Fatigue; Work schedules; Shift work; Sleep deprivation; Mental health; Stress; Training; Transportation workers; Utility workers; Safety research;
Author Keywords: fatigue; fatigue mitigation; research needs; transportation; utilities
Contact
W. Karl Sieber, PhD, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1938, USA
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
WSieber@cdc.gov
NIOSH Division
DFSE; DSR; WSD; DSI
Priority Area
Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities
Source Name
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
