Are Fatigue and Sleepiness the Same? A Brief Introduction to the Differences and Similarities and Their Implications for Work Safety

Fatigue-related risk is a persistent safety concern for the mining industry. However, fatigue and sleepiness are often treated interchangeably, which can lead to confusion and potentially less effective reduction of safety risk. To provide clarity, we present an overview of similarities and differences between work-related fatigue risk and sleepiness including definitions, theories, measurements, and mitigation strategies. As a supplement, a summative visual model which highlights these similarities and differences is presented. Expanding industry knowledge in this area will assist safety professionals in crafting more targeted risk management practices appropriate for work-related fatigue risk, sleepiness, or both.

Automated summary

This study provided an overview of similarities and differences between fatigue-related risk and sleepiness in the mining industry, and presented a visual model to highlight these points. Expanding industry knowledge can help develop more targeted risk management practices.