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This course is no longer conducted by MARCSTA (information for historical purposes only)

Extended Working Hours and Your Health and Safety

 

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National Training Package

This course is not nationally accredited as MARCSTA is not an RTO.  However, the Extended Working Hours and Your Health and Safety induction underpins the elements and performance criteria of the unit TLIF2010A Apply Fatigue Management Strategies which is a core unit of competency from the nationally accredited Transport and Logistics Training Package TLI10.

 

This course is designed for workers and employers everywhere as a basic introduction to managing extended working hours.

Much of the content of the program calls for input and discussion involving candidates.

The content of the course has been grouped under six main elements:

  1. Our Biological Clocks.
  2. Sleep.
  3. Sleep Deprivation.
  4. Staying Safe and Alert.
  5. Maintaining Good Health.
  6. Family and Social Consequences.

This program has been developed to enable both employers and employees to meet:

  • the duty of care obligations contained in the occupational safety and health legislation prevailing in respective workplaces; and
  • the Working Hours Code of Practice.

Control measures listed in the Working Hours Code of Practice (Commission for Occupational Safety and Health WA) MIAC, to manage risks resulting from extended working hours or shift work arrangements applying in many workplaces, include providing information and training to managers, supervisors and employees.

The course covers the skills and knowledge required to apply fatigue management strategies, including identifying and acting upon signs of fatigue and implementing appropriate strategies to minimise fatigue during work activities.

 

Elements and Performance Criteria

Following completion of this induction program, candidates should be able to meet the following performance criteria:

Apply Fatigue Management Strategies

Identify and act upon signs of fatigue

  1. Potential causes of fatigue are monitored and action taken to minimise their effects in accordance with company procedures.
  2. Personal warning signs of fatigue are recognised and necessary steps are taken in accordance with workplace procedures to ensure that effective work capability and alertness are maintained.

Implement strategies to minimise fatigue

  1. Routes and schedules are assessed and planned to minimise fatigue.
  2. Factors which increase the risk of fatigue-related accidents and safety incidents are understood and minimised.
  3. Strategies to manage fatigue are implemented in accordance with company policy.
  4. Lifestyle choices are made which promote the effective long-term management of fatigue.
  5. Effective practices in combating fatigue are adopted and applied.
  6. Personal fatigue management strategies are communicated to other relevant people.
  7. Appropriate counter measures are planned to combat fatigue.

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Program Content

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Our Biological Clocks

  • What regulates our circadian rhythms
  • Major known effects of your biological clock
  • Environmental cues that reset the biological clock
  • Potential health and performance consequences of circadian disruption
  • Obesity, diabetes and depression
  • Discussion Topics
  • Sleep
  • What happens when we go to sleep?
  • What is sleep?
  • The stages of sleep
  • How long should we sleep?
  • Discussion Topics

Chapter 3: Sleep Deprivation

  • Sleep deprivation and performance
  • Sleep inertia
  • Time of day effects on performance and sleep
  • Night time sleep pattern
  • Daytime sleep pattern
  • Sleep deprivation and microsleeps
  • Managing your sleep environment
  • Sleep bandits
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Preparing for night shifts
  • Recovery methods
  • Is napping an effective strategy?
  • Discussion Topics

Chapter 4: Staying Safe and Alert

  • The circadian rhythm of alertness
  • Nine controls of human alertness
  • Shift work, extended hours and alertness
  • Fatigue impairment versus alcohol impairment
  • Safety on the road - dangers of automatic behaviour syndrome
  • Discussion Topics

Chapter 5: Maintaining Good Health

  • Eating for energy
  • Avoiding digestive disorders
  • Regularising your meal times
  • Common health concerns for shift workers and those who work extended hours
  • Good dietary practices
  • Exercise - the third ingredient for a long and healthy life
  • Understanding stress
  • Depression
  • Discussion Topics

Chapter 6: Family and Social Consequences

  • Completing a common family and social problems questionnaire
  • Fly-in/Fly-out operations
  • Why communication is so important
  • The need for ongoing research
  • Discussion Topics

MARCSTA acknowledges and thanks Circadian Technologies, Inc ( www.circadian.com ) who made numerous contributions to the material and graphics provided in this training program and accompanying publication.

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