Work Fatigue: The Invisible Yet Serious Health Threat

Long working hours or excessive work pressure have been proven to cause cardiovascular diseases and mental health problems, commonly known as " KAROSHI." However, the health risks derived from work fatigue go far beyond this. As fatigue increases, workers' attention and reaction abilities decline, increasing the risk of accidents, especially in high-risk industries, where such conditions may lead to deadly crises.

Causes and Effects of Work Fatigue

Work fatigue refers to the physical and mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged physical or psychological labor. The causes of work fatigue include long working hours, shift work, heavy workloads, poor working environments (such as noise, insufficient lighting or ventilation, hot environments, monotonous, and repetitive work), all of which can reduce workers' concentration and reaction abilities, thereby increasing the occurrence of occupational accidents. In high-risk industries such as manufacturing, construction, and transportation, fatigue is a major factor behind occupational accidents, including machinery operation accidents, traffic accidents, as well as slips, trips, and collisions, becoming an "invisible killer" in the workplace.

International and Taiwan's Response to Work Fatigue

In response to this, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced at the 2019 World Health Assembly (WHA) that burnout would be included in the International Classification of Diseases starting in 2022. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) also established the Center for Work and Fatigue Research (CWFR) in 2020. In Taiwan, the Ministry of Labor's Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health published a research report this June, which included the "Technical Guidelines for Work Fatigue Assessment Methods and Workplace Fatigue Management" (third edition) to provide references for the prevention of fatigue hazards. The report also highlighted the fatigue risks faced by several emerging industries, urging public attention.

Fatigue Risks Under AI Applications

With the increasing application of artificial intelligence in the workplace, many companies have begun to rely on algorithms to manage work, from scheduling, setting production times, to employee allocation. However, these systems lack human empathy, potentially imposing higher demands on workers. Workers must keep pace with the work rhythm set by algorithms and face constant pressure from efficiency monitoring, resulting in a loss of flexibility over their working hours.

In such work environments, workers' mental health is threatened, with anxiety, frustration, and even depression becoming common issues, alongside increased risks of fatigue and neurological disorders. To protect workers' health and safety in such environments, research emphasizes the need for specific regulations requiring algorithm management systems to be transparent, respecting workers' actual capacities and preserving their autonomy and privacy, to avoid over-reliance on inhumane management systems.

Fatigue Challenges in the Offshore Wind Power Industry

In pursuit of net-zero carbon emissions, Taiwan is actively promoting the development of green energy, with offshore wind power being a key industry. Since many operations take place at sea, weather conditions become a crucial factor affecting workers' workload and project progress, potentially leading to extended working hours and increasing fatigue risks. According to the UK's 2018 report "Managing Offshore Shift Work and Fatigue Risks," the main fatigue issue in the UK's offshore industry stems from shift schedules, often spanning 14 days with 12-hour workdays, creating long and continuous work cycles that exacerbate workers' fatigue levels. Therefore, strict work hour limits and fatigue management should be implemented for offshore operations to ensure workers' safety and health.

The Importance of Fatigue Management and Recommendations

Fatigue has become an increasingly serious health issue in modern workplaces, and the occupational injury risks associated with it cannot be ignored. To effectively reduce the risks of occupational accidents caused by fatigue, both businesses and governments should adopt multiple fatigue management and prevention measures. For example, long working hours should be limited, reasonable shift systems implemented, and stricter fatigue monitoring mechanisms established for high-risk industries. This will ensure workers' health and safety while effectively reducing occupational accidents caused by fatigue.