An overview of how Air Traffic Controllers can overcome fatigue at workplace

1. FATIGUE DRIVERS IN ATM
OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES
KATCA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 30TH JANUARY-2016
VINCENT OPONDO ODUOR – AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

2. FATIGUE DEFINED
Fatigue is the state of tiredness that
is associated with long hours of work,
prolonged periods without sleep, or
the requirement to work at times that
are ‘out of sync’ with the body’s
biological or circadian rhythms.

3. • Taxing mental work
• Physical exhaustion
• Mental boredom
• Lack of quality/quantity of sleep
• Sedative drugs
• The presence of untreated sleep
disorders (such as obstructive
sleep apnea or narcolepsy)
Fatigue Drivers

4. • Slower brain activity
• Slower eye movement and
pupillary responses
• Unconsciously acceptable lower
performance standards
• Decline in social interactions
• Attitude and mood deterioration
• Involuntary sleep lapses
Effects of fatigue at work places

5. How do we measure fatigue
There are no
markers for
fatigue

6. Recognizing general signs of fatigue:

7. Factors that affect alertness/sleepiness
• Homeostatic sleep pressure – the
amount of time awake since the
last sleep period (if the period of
continuous wakefulness extends
beyond a typical 16-hour day, the
homeostatic drive becomes
noticeable as maintenance of
wakefulness becomes more
difficult)

8. • Circadian Factor (mechanism) –
Time of the day according to the
body clock.
Circadian Rhythm makes sleep drive
particularly high between 0300 and
0500 and also at predawn when
humans are physiologically
programmed to be asleep.

9. Some of the symptoms of a disrupted
circadian rhythm (circadian
desynchronosis) include:
• Fatigue
• Malaise
• Sleepiness
• Lack of motivation
• Confusion
• Insomnia
• Digestive disorders

10. Early afternoon ‘post-lunch deep’
sleepiness occurs regardless of
whether food is consumed or not.
When both the homeostatic and
circadian drives for sleep are high:
Alertness, performance, mood and
safety are at serious jeopardy to the
level of alcohol intoxication

12. • Sleep inertia – the short-term
grogginess right after awakening
Other factors include:
• The quality of sleep since last sleep
• The level of activity
• The appeal of task at hand
• Comfort of immediate environment
• Lighting levels

13. Countermeasures for fatigue
 Sleep Optimization – Humans
need at least 8 hours of sleep per
day.
 Stick to consistent wake-up time
and bedtime.
 Use the bedroom only for sleep
and ***
 Resolve daily dilemmas outside
the bedroom

14.  Establish an aerobic exercise
routine and stick to it.
 Create quiet and confortable sleep
environment.
 Don’t consume caffeine within 4
hours of bedtime.
 Don’t use alcohol as a sleep aid.
 Don’t smoke cigarettes
immediately before bedtime.

15. Anti-Fatigue Strategies for Shift Lag
• Reduce mental demands on night
shift
• Double check everything (Read-
back/Hear-Backs)
• Use split shift – Use off duty times
for periods when sleep is naturally
easier to obtain.

16. • Prepare by sleeping or resting
before a night shift.
• Eat a light meal a few hours before
starting the night shift.
• Maintain alertness during a night
duty by keeping up a dialogue
within the team.

17. • Organize regular breaks if available
and use these effectively and If your
unit allows it, take a short nap (no
more than 30-40 minutes) but allow
15-20 minutes to wake up properly
before returning to duty.
• If naps are not possible, try to get
some fresh air and exposure to bright
light during a break.

18. Graçias!
Asante!
Thank You!