Fatigue Risk Management Newsletter

Summary

Recent reports show that fatigue risk is increasingly being treated as both a safety priority and a core factor in industrial operations. Across most sectors, there is a clear move beyond simple compliance toward a deeper focus on workforce health and "readiness to work". In India, this shift is most visible in aviation, where rapid growth has clashed with new duty-time mandates, leading to large-scale cancellations and a fresh debate on how to protect staff from exhaustion.

There’s also a clear trend toward using tech to build safer working environments. From AI-based drowsiness detection on Indian highways to predictive analytics in US rail and maritime sectors, organisations are adopting tools designed to support staff and account for human exhaustion. Whether it’s South African insurers linking premiums to confirmed rest periods or Canadian firms testing microbreak schedules, managing alertness is being integrated into broader efforts to improve workforce wellbeing.

Agriculture

An article from the US tech outlet Technowize explores how wearables are finding a place in smart farming, specifically to monitor livestock and protect workers from heat stress and exhaustion. While devices that track heart rate, hydration, and sleep patterns are framed as a way to manage physical recovery, the report notes that high costs, battery life, and data privacy remain significant hurdles to widespread adoption.

Aviation

The aviation sector is navigating a period of intense regulatory scrutiny, particularly in India, where the industry is struggling to balance rapid commercial growth with new, stringent fatigue-management mandates.

IndiGo, a major Indian carrier, faced a significant operational crisis, grounding more than half its fleet and cancelling 4,500 flights in December 2025 due to a shortage of legally rested staff. Reports from the BBC and Asia News Network suggest that the airline’s failure to comply with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules by November 2025 led to the collapse. The airline has since increased pilot allowances to stabilise its workforce, as noted by Aviation Business Middle East. The crisis has prompted the DGCA to mandate annual fatigue training for all aircrews to ensure passenger safety isn't sidelined by operational pressure.

Airways Magazine notes that irregular shifts for ground handlers and maintenance staff are often overlooked, advocating for science-based Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS). In the US, Travel And Tour World reports that a United Airlines crew demonstrated a safety-first approach by halting a flight after hitting duty limits during severe weather. However, safety concerns remain high; The New Indian Express reports that ALPA India has warned of similar rostering issues at Air India Express, while Vocal notes a 15.6% jump in business aviation accidents linked to pilot exhaustion.

Construction

Recent reporting in the construction sector shows a growing focus on fatigue as projects deal with tighter schedules, labour shortages, and new digital tools.

Safety experts writing for EHS Leaders suggest that construction safety in 2026 will be defined by "crisis resilience". Contributors from EcoOnline and Highwire note that schedule pressure and climate risks are pushing insurers to demand better preparedness, with fatigue risks now shaped by how effectively technology is woven into daily site operations.

Academic research published in PLOS ONE has found a measurable link between fatigue and unsafe behaviour among scaffolders in Malaysia. By using physical and cognitive tests rather than self-reporting, the study found that slower reaction times led to more safety violations.

To combat physical strain, firms are turning to technology. Reports from Click Petróleo e Gás highlight the use of exoskeletons and robotics to reduce exhaustion. Meanwhile, For Construction Pros notes that Highwire anticipates AI tools will be used more frequently on complex projects to provide better visibility into real-time risks.

Devices and Technologies

Fatigue detection is expanding rapidly across AI video systems and wearables. While commercial fleet safety is the main driver, the tech is also moving into education and healthcare.

In India, TimesTech and Business Today report that Netradyne is deploying vision-based edge AI to detect driver fatigue in real time. In the US, Lytx Inc reports via PR Newswire that its detection tech is now active in over 23,000 vehicles.

Insurers are also getting involved; Samsara and Allianz UK have partnered to give policyholders access to monitoring tools. Similarly, Zenduit notes that insurers increasingly look for AI-powered drowsiness detection when assessing risk.

Beyond transport, Bioengineer.org reports on an AI framework to monitor student fatigue during remote learning. In the wearable space, Electronics Media highlights a sweat-analysis patch from STMicroelectronics that tracks hydration and exhaustion in real time.

Energy & Offshore

The energy sector is seeing a rise in safety incidents as a shortage of experienced staff and growing operational pressures collide. Both traditional oil and gas firms and offshore wind operators are being urged to move toward "human performance" models that account for the real-world impact of fatigue in high-stakes environments.

In UK Offshore Renewables, a recent study by DNV, reported by DNV News, warns that as projects scale up, injury rates are climbing. The firm is calling for a new safety framework that adapts oil and gas best practices to better manage the human risks—including exhaustion—involved in maintaining large-scale wind fleets.

Across Global Oil and Gas, the IOGP has flagged a worrying trend where process safety is slipping worldwide. Writing in IOGP Reflections, safety leaders argue that companies must look closer at "normal work"—understanding how staff actually manage tasks when they are tired or under pressure—to prevent a rise in serious accidents.

In the United States, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) recently published a Safety Alert detailing how worker fatigue led to a serious injury during offshore operations. The regulator is now urging operators to review their fatigue management plans, specifically looking at how long hours and a lack of quality sleep contribute to "human error" on rigs.

In the North Sea, the safety group Step Change in Safety used the Offshore Europe 2025 conference to launch a refreshed safety strategy. The move signals an industry-wide effort to focus more on "human factors" and workforce wellbeing to prevent major accidents as the energy transition speeds up.

Healthcare

Fatigue in healthcare is increasingly viewed as a systemic failure, driven by staffing gaps and relentless administrative burdens.

A public sector doctor in South Africa told The Citizen that mountains of paperwork and chronic understaffing are pushing clinicians to a breaking point. He described how persistent exhaustion is forcing many doctors to leave the public health service entirely.

In the US, CBS 58 reports a surge in interest for wellness services that target "brain fog" and mental fatigue. At the same time, WorldHealth.net highlights how major organisations like the Cleveland Clinic are looking at flexible rotas to prevent the exhaustion that leads to high nurse turnover.

Insurance

Insurers are increasingly linking commercial premiums to the use of verifiable safety data. Recent industry shifts show underwriters incentivising the use of fatigue-tracking tech to sharpen risk profiles and lower the cost of claims across safety-critical fleets.

Rising costs for trucking fleets are pushing insurers to look for evidence of active safety management and clear data. According to Fatigue Science, experts from US-based Lockton and Hub International suggest that using predictive models like Readi can help carriers land better underwriting terms by tackling fatigue risks before they lead to accidents.

In the United Kingdom, insurtech firm Zego has launched a new feature designed to help commercial drivers track their rest periods against legal requirements. As reported by Insurance Edge, the tool turns driving habits into a score that can lower insurance costs, effectively rewarding those who manage their energy levels well.

Looking at the global picture, Dublin-based Cameramatics suggests that making driver monitoring systems a mandatory part of vehicle insurance could be a major step for road safety. Using AI to spot when a driver is distracted or tired allows insurers to build risk models based on how people actually behave behind the wheel, a point highlighted by both Cameramatics and the World Health Organization.

Maritime

Recent reports place crew fatigue at the heart of accident investigations, with fatal collisions highlighting the danger of unmanaged exhaustion.

Investigations by gCaptain and Seatrade Maritime into the collision between the Hafnia Nile and Ceres I found that extreme fatigue was the primary cause. Following the crash, The Maritime Executive reports that Singaporean authorities cited a breakdown in safety culture when filing charges against the crew.

The US National Transportation Safety Board, via Safety4Sea, also linked a towing vessel crash to a captain falling asleep at the helm. To address these risks, Safety4Sea notes that updated guidance reinforces the need for shipowners to address both physical and mental exhaustion.

Mining

The mining industry is currently focused on combining staff training with safety-monitoring tech. Operators are pairing hands-on training and leadership programmes with tools that track worker alertness, while producers and vendors expand their partnerships to meet tighter regulations and manage risks in high-stakes environments.

Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) reports a significant boost in safety at its Thar operations in Pakistan after introducing structured training and new leadership systems. By embedding fatigue management and fitness-for-work checks alongside health measures, the firm has reached record low injury rates and sustained safe working hours, according to World Coal.

Across Australia and North America, more operators are using fatigue monitoring systems to get a clearer picture of worker alertness and risk levels. Market analysis cited by Electronics Media shows mining firms are spending on AI-enabled tech and wearables to help with compliance and keep traceable safety records, with emerging economies now following suit to meet international standards.

In Chile, the state-owned miner Codelco and Swedish tech group Hexagon have signed a five-year deal to test and roll out digital tools covering fatigue, distraction, and collision avoidance. This partnership, reported by Global Mining Review, reflects a shift towards folding fatigue controls into broader automation plans at major sites.

Rail

Recent rail safety coverage focuses heavily on fatigue-related risks, appearing in results from accident investigations, regulatory reviews, and industrial disputes. Findings from several countries suggest there are still major gaps in how rail operators spot, report, and manage worker exhaustion in their daily operations.

In the United Kingdom, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch found that fatigue and a microsleep caused a Southern train to hit the buffers at London Bridge. As reported by RailAdvent, BBC News, and RAIL Magazine, investigators pointed to poor roster design and staff repeatedly working on their rest days. Govia Thameslink Railway was criticised for its weak fatigue management, leading to new demands for better shift planning and monitoring. The operator has since updated its fatigue standards.

In the United States, an analysis by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism found that the Federal Railroad Administration has acted on only a fraction of the safety recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board over the last ten years. Reporting from ABC News links delayed rules and industry lobbying to a continued risk of accidents caused by sleep deprivation and human error.

Back in the UK, drivers from the Aslef union have gone on strike following the sacking of a Hull Trains driver who allegedly fell asleep while driving at high speed. According to the Daily Mail, the dispute is about how fatigue is reported and whether strict disciplinary action makes drivers afraid to speak up when they are too tired to work safely.

In Australia, a safety report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau looked into "run-swapping"—an unofficial practice where drivers trade shifts, often leading to longer hours and shorter breaks. As detailed by the ATSB, this has led to new bans, audits, and a review by the national regulator, ONRSR, highlighting why shift rules must be strictly enforced to keep fatigue in check.

Road Transport Safety

Transport authorities are pairing enforcement with monitoring tech and mandatory rest periods to tackle drowsy driving.

In India, Udayavani and Pragativadi report that states like Karnataka and Odisha are rolling out fatigue alert systems and monitoring tools across bus fleets. The Hans India notes that authorities are even considering mandatory overnight rest periods for night-shift drivers.

In the UK, Van Fleet World reports that firms are using AI-enabled dashcams to combat delivery pressure, while Pegasus Couriers notes that firms face stricter enforcement from the Traffic Commissioner. In Australia, Fullyloaded reports that large fleets like Australia Post are shifting toward using behaviour analytics to identify risks early.

Utilities

The utility sector is facing heightened fatigue risks due to extreme weather events, aging workforces, and the demands of 24/7 emergency response. Industry bodies are now prioritising formal risk management systems to address the physical and cognitive exhaustion inherent in field operations and network maintenance.

The Energy Networks Association has launched Project EFRIN to explore the complex drivers of fatigue across energy networks, including long hours and the impact of severe weather on recovery time. This initiative by the Energy Networks Association aims to upskill managers and dispatchers in identifying early behavioural changes within field teams to prevent task disengagement and safety incidents.

In the United Kingdom, research from Prospect indicates that 40% of energy sector workers felt too fatigued to work safely last year, yet many did not report it to their employers. According to Prospect, the industry is being urged to adopt a risk-based approach that monitors workload pressures and management practices to protect workforce health and safety.

Across the globe, the Ipieca-IOGP partnership has released updated guidance for managing fatigue in the workplace, specifically for high-hazard energy operations. The guidance, featured by Ipieca, provides managers with tools to assess operator fatigue and implement biomathematical models to ensure safer shift patterns during critical infrastructure projects.

In Australia, the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association is advocating for the widespread adoption of Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) to combat the risks of 12-hour shifts and rotating rosters. Reporting in Utility Magazine, the association warns that fatigued workers in the gas sector are significantly more likely to be involved in incidents that impact both the individual and the wider community.

Workplace Safety Culture

Employers are moving away from individual blame and looking at how system design and shift demands drive fatigue.

Reports from TechBullion and the International Business Times highlight the rise of computer vision and health apps to monitor safety in real time. In Nigeria, BusinessDay highlights how companies like MTN are using workload monitoring to manage fatigue. Meanwhile, OSH Canada advocates for "microbreak" programs as a practical way to manage physical strain.

Fatigue Risk Management News

20th January 2026