5.1 Why Fatigue/Alertness Management is important

1. Longer commutes and extended shifts, double and triple shifts, shift swapping, and extra jobs impose greater demands on the workforce and reduce the time to sleep.
   
   
2. Reduced numbers of maintenance personnel result in increased workload on remaining workers.
   
   
3. Fatigue affects emotional, physical, and mental capabilities.
   
   
4. Fatigue causes performance decrements similar to those caused by alcohol.
   
   
5. Few regulations adequately address the issue of alertness.