Stress and fatigue a real problem in NZ workplace

Tuesday 04 September 2001

Working for long periods without sleep can leave workers so fatigued that it has the same effects as drinking on the job, the Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) said today.

This is just one indicator which has led to OSH reviewing the affects of stress and fatigue in the New Zealand workplace.

Led by Dr Chris Walls an OSH team is updating its current information for dealing with stress and fatigue in the workplace.

"The reality is some jobs are inherently more difficult to cope with than others. This is a belief held by New Zealand employers, employees, the judiciary and the public at large," said Dr Walls.

Currently OSH has concern with two types of work in relation to stress and fatigue. The first is work that inherently contains situations or circumstances that are difficult to cope with.

"Many people in these types of occupations show evidence of physical or mental distress at a greater rate than the community at large," said Dr Walls.

"Often their tasks are emotionally repugnant or draining. These occupations may include healthcare workers, the police or social workers"

The second is work that does not inherently contain stressful factors but is organised in such a way that coping may be difficult. An example which has interested OSH is that of a large long distance transport firm that stops its drivers operating above the accepted limit of hours but then insists on their driving an hired car back to their homes.

The original stress and fatigue booklet resulted after the death of a mill worker driving home in the early hours of the morning after working 16-hour shifts for three days in a row.

"Already the health and safety implications have been raised in a official capacity, there have been three cases to our knowledge have explored the issue in the Employment Court and the High Court.

"Two of these cases have been successful (subject to appeal) saying that the employer did not act as they should. These cases used the standards set by the HSE Act and the OSH Stress and Fatigue booklet as the benchmark.

"We gave a commitment to employers, employees and H&S professionals that OSH would update the scientific knowledge in our 1998 stress and fatigue guide and also ensure that the guidelines are in line with current international knowledge.

OSH is seeking comments from employers and employees and other interested parties.