Fatigue Management in Construction: Why It’s Now a Key HSE Priority
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently highlighted fatigue management as a critical concern in the construction industry, urging employers to treat it with the same importance as other site safety risks. Fatigue not only impairs concentration and decision-making but also significantly increases the risk of accidents—especially in high-risk environments involving plant machinery, working at height, or complex lifting operations.
This latest guidance, reported in PBC Today, encourages businesses to adopt structured fatigue risk management strategies and ensure supervisors are trained to identify and act on early signs of fatigue-related hazards.
Why Managing Fatigue Matters on Construction Sites
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR), employers are legally required to protect workers from foreseeable risks—including those stemming from fatigue. Poor management of work hours, insufficient rest periods, and inadequate supervision can all lead to:
•Reduced reaction times and concentration
•Errors in equipment handling or signalling
•Increased likelihood of slips, trips, and falls
•Reduced capacity to follow safe systems of work
These risks are particularly relevant for workers operating plant machinery, supervising lifting operations, or undertaking demanding physical labour.
The Role of Supervisors and Site Managers
Proper management of fatigue starts with competent supervision. Site supervisors and managers trained through qualifications such as the Level 4 NVQ in Construction Site Supervision and Level 6 NVQ in Construction Site Management are equipped to:
•Monitor working hours and rest breaks
•Identify signs of fatigue in team members
•Adapt schedules or duties to reduce risk
•Implement site-specific fatigue management plans
This proactive approach supports a safer, healthier working environment and aligns with the Building Safety Act’s wider emphasis on leadership accountability.
How All Star Safety Can Help
At All Star Safety, we help employers build site teams that are not only qualified but also trained to manage all facets of safety, including occupational health risks like fatigue.
✔ NVQ assessments for supervisors and site managers
✔ Health and safety consultancy focusing on fatigue, mental wellbeing, and duty-of-care strategies
✔ Site audits and workforce compliance reviews
✔ Toolbox talk development and fatigue awareness training
Contact us to see how we can assist you in staying safe and compliant.
📞 0330 133 0402
📞 01473 561 402
📩 info@allstarsafety.co.uk