Sleep and fatigue offshore

Sleep and fatigue-related performance impairments are widely recognized occupational hazards, which are common in the offshore oil and gas industry. Our study among rotating (2-weeks-on/2-weeks-off) offshore day-shift workers found that the prevalence of fatigue among offshore workers was high (73%), with 1 in 4 workers experiencing severe sleepiness each day on shift. Offshore, workers accumulated >2.5 nights of consolidated sleep loss and fatigue increased with days-on-shift. Furthermore, we identified three potential fatigue risk prone periods in which fatigue accumulated. An end-of-shift effect, as fatigue was highest in the post-shift measure and increased with days-on-shift; a third quarter phenomenon, as fatigue scores peaked three quarters into a two-week shift; and a spill-over effect as increased fatigue scores were observed during commuting days. These results provide suggestive evidence that sleep and fatigue-related performance impairments may negatively impact the health and safety of offshore workers. Presented findings provide important input for the discussion on maximum thresholds of (offshore) shift durations and should be considered in existing fatigue risk management programs.