Interim NIOSH Training for Emergency Responders: Safe Work Practices for Managers and Workers

To reduce psychological stress that can lead to poor sleep, create a work environment with these characteristics:

• Respectful interpersonal communications
• Clearly established responder rights, roles, and responsibilities, including
  • Some control in decision-making
  • Protection from threats or violence such as bullying
• Sufficient resources available for responders to do their jobs
• Acknowledgment of jobs well done

Establish Systems to Reduce Errors and Incidents Due to Fatigue:

• Identify areas in the operation where mistakes due to fatigue would cause significant problems.
• Develop a system to defend vulnerable areas: for example, double-check important work outputs.