DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A FATIGUE COUNTERMEASURE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SHIFTWORKERS

Abstract

Due to increasing 24-hour a day operations, a growing population of employees work non-traditional hours. Often associated with extended work periods, variable work schedules, and extensive night work, these schedules conflict with the body's natural mechanisms for managing sleep and alertness, and often result in fatigue. The strategic management of fatigue is necessary for the health, well-being, and safety of workers, and fatigue educational programs may be pivotal. This study develops and evaluates the effectiveness of fatigue countermeasure training for shiftworkers using an integrated taxonomy of learning outcomes, as well as alternative evaluation methods to improve confidence in conclusions. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of thoroughly developed fatigue countermeasure training on affective, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes, and leading to greater use of fatigue management strategies and less fatigue overall.