April 18, 2012 -  Electricity, toxic chemicals, bone-crushing machines,  fall hazards and fire  are just some of the dangers the 20^th century workplace health and safety programs were designed to root out. The safety program of the new millennium must deal not just with these old enemies but new threats that are still not fully recognized or understood—ergonomics, workplace violence, mental stress and what may be the newest of the newfangled hazards—fatigue. Fatigue as a Safety Hazard Fatigue is more than simply sleepiness. It’s the body’s response to sleep loss and/or prolonged physical or mental exertion, e.g., as a result of working nights or […]