A FATIGUE CHECKCARD FOR MISHAP INVESTIGATIONS

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A FATIGUE CHECKCARD FOR MISHAP INVESTIGATIONS
James C. Miller
AFRL-HE-BR-TR-2005-0071

Investigators of workplace and transportation accidents and incidents seldom have the instruments or expertise required to determine whether or not human fatigue might have contributed to the mishap. The Fatigue Checkcard and its associated protocol were designed as a screening tool to fill this need. Briefly, using the Checkcard, the investigator may generate a
score based upon seven simple observations: Length of pnor wakefulness, amount of prior sleep for the preceding 72 hours, time of mishap, number of night shifts in preceding 30 days, time zone change and days in zone, types of human errors associated with mishap, and estimated physical exertion across the work period of interest. If the score is above a criterion level shown on the card, then the investigator should contact a fatigue expert for additional help with the
investigation. The Fatigue Checkcard was designed in part using the U.S. Department of Defense Sleep, Activity, Fatigue, and Task Effectiveness (SAFTE) applied model, implemented as the FAST1M software. The SAFTE applied model integrated the effects of length of prior wakefulness, amount of sleep and circadian rhythm. This Fatigue Checkcard and its associated protocol were provided as the response to an Eagle Look recommendation made by the Inspector General of the Air Force and approved by the Air Staff.