Received from: HCSA
This Congress notes that workplace fatigue is an increasing occupational health and safety risk across the UK economy. It affects workers in healthcare, transport, emergency services, manufacturing, social care and other safety-critical sectors. Fatigue contributes to errors, accidents, sickness absence, burnout, poor retention and reduced productivity. In healthcare, exhausted staff can place both themselves and patients at risk, but the same principles apply wherever tiredness undermines safe performance. Workforce shortages, long hours, poor rota design, inadequate rest facilities and insufficient recovery time have intensified the problem.
Congress notes that fatigue should be treated as a preventable organisational hazard, not an individual weakness. The campaign will seek national recognition of fatigue as a major workplace safety issue, supported by stronger guidance and, where necessary, regulation requiring employers to undertake fatigue risk assessments. The proposal aims to secure safer staffing levels, evidence-based rota design, adequate rest breaks, suitable rest facilities, protected recovery time between shifts, and confidential mechanisms for workers to report fatigue without fear of detriment. Health and safety representatives should receive training to identify, monitor and challenge fatigue risks. Fatigue management policies should be negotiated through collective bargaining.
Congress calls on the General Council to lobby government to work with employers, regulators, occupational health experts and affiliated unions to develop sector-specific fatigue management guidance. Effective fatigue management will improve worker wellbeing, reduce sickness absence, support retention, improve productivity, reduce avoidable errors and accidents, and protect service users and the wider public.
Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association
AMENDMENT
In first line after “Congress notes” insert “a recent Unite survey showing that bus driver fatigue is putting workers, passengers and pedestrians at risk, and that many drivers don’t tell employers they are fatigued for fear of being penalised”, then delete “that” and start new sentence with “Fatigue should…”etc.
After “individual weakness” delete “The campaign will seek” at start of next sentence and insert “Congress seeks”.
After “fatigue risk assessments” delete “The proposal aims” at start of next sentence and insert “Congress will aim”.
Between “evidence-based rota” and “design” insert “and scheduling”.
Between “suitable rest” and “facilities” insert a comma and “toilet and welfare”.
Between “facilities” and “protected recovery time” insert “protection from extreme temperatures”.
Unite
AMENDMENT
At the end of paragraph 1 after ‘intensified the problem.’ Insert
‘Employers are also increasingly attempting to introduce inappropriately designed ‘on call’ systems to compensate for and mask short staffing’
In paragraph 2 after ‘protected recovery time between shifts,’ add
24
‘compensatory rest after periods of ‘on call’,’
Royal College of Midwives
AMENDMENT
Add New Paragraph 3)
“Congress recognises fatigue as a systemic workplace hazard and calls for legal duties on employers to assess, prevent and manage fatigue risks through appropriate staffing, working time arrangements, welfare facilities, workforce consultation and effective regulatory enforcement.”
Nautilus International