What is Fatigue? Its causes and methods of elimination
Fatigue is reduction in the ability to work due to previous work. It is mainly due to external factors like pressure on workers, emotion, environment, personal factors etc. All these are directly related to the fatigue caused by a worker. There are many factors which causes fatigue and few methods for elimination of fatigue. It is important to eliminate fatigue in an industry for increasing the production.
Fatigue is not an entity but merely a convenient word to describe a variety of phenomenon. Factors Causing Fatigue
1. Long working hours: Due to long working hours worker becomes tired which causes decrease in the production. When the hours of work are less the production is always high.
2. Rest: Continuous work reduces the efficiency to work and increase fatigue. The solution of this problem is by letting the workers rest for sometime so that they can re-energize.
3. Temperature: When temperature is either too hot or too cold it starts affecting the mental as well as physical conditions of the worker. Proper temperature should be maintained in room.
4. Illumination: Due to the improper lightning workers become tired this leads to eye strain. The working place should be properly illuminated to decrease fatigue.
5. Noise: High Noise produced by the machinery disturbs the mental condition of worker which results in the reduction in ability to work. A worker finds it difficult to work in such situation.
6. Unhealthy conditions: Fatigue is related to health. BAd health conditions are responsible for fatigue. Improper ventilation, disturbing smell, less medical facilities, excessive humidity, emotional stresses and strains have a bad influence upon the health of a worker.
Methods for eliminating fatigue
1. Less working hours: The hours of work must be less so as to reduce the fatigue. 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week should be the standard working hours.
2. Rest Pauses: Introduction of rest pauses reduces fatigue. A pause of about 10-15 minutes during mid morning and mid afternoon is very helpful. Rest should be given to the workers whenever they feel tires if they are working for long hours.
3. Shift work: In today's time of growth workers are expected to work in shifts to meet the consumer demands. Night shift is not good for health since it disturbs the natural cycle of sleep,rest and eating. Worker should be given a shift according to his preference.
4. Other Techniques: Other technique include providing suitable healthy condition to the worker, proper drinking water, clean surrounding etc. Cafeteria should be within the factory site because food intake by workers reduces fatigue.
Fatigue is to be studied and removed immediately as it may cause to many diseases and future problems. As per the principles of Scientific Management of F.W.Taylor,in Management Theory,a seperate study in the Management is stressed as Fatigue Study as it may be cause to production variance.