Reading newspapers, cracking jokes, not acting as team…this resulted in a collision between an oil tanker and an outbound vessel towing barges that produced the largest spill in Texas since 1990 and closed the Sabine Neches Ship Channel for five days. The NTSB report cited pilot fatigue as a factor. Fortunately no one was injured.

It’s the small things that lead to big problems — inattentiveness, lack of communication, boredom, distractions or fatigue.

Fatigue is not merely being tired. It can be due to medical conditions, lifetyle or emotional problems or stress. Depression, grief and anxiety all lead to tatigue.

To the extent that we can recognize the symptoms of fatigue in fellow workers, the safer our workplaces will become.

Posted in News