New Model Code of Practice Explained: Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work

According to Safe Work Australia, “fatigue is a state of physical, mental or emotional impairment. Fatigue can develop over the short or long term, can prevent people from functioning safely and can have health effects” (Safe Work Australia, 2025). Fatigue can harm a workers’ own physical and mental health, as well as harming others due to fatigue making work less safe.

To address fatigue-related risks, Safe Work Australia has introduced a new model Code of Practice on Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work, which provides updated and practical guidance for businesses. The Code applies to all workplaces under the model WHS laws. This blog will discuss what’s new in this Model Code of Practice and what steps businesses should take following its release.

What’s New and Emphasised More Strongly in the Model Code of Practice?

With this new Code of Practice, there is now greater clarity on what fatigue is and how it affects work performance. There is a greater focus in the Code on the wholistic impact of fatigue on physical, mental or emotional health and not just simply “feeling tired”. Additionally, it provides examples of how fatigue can have a domino effect on workers’ health and wellbeing, but also how fatigue may intensify other hazards within the workplace. It covers what PCBUs must do under WHS laws. For example, eliminating health and safety fatigue related risks “so far as is reasonably practicable” (Safe Work Australia, 2025). The Code of Practice also covers the appropriate risk management process that should be used by workplaces for fatigue risks: Identify hazards > Assess risks > Control risks > Maintain and review controls (Safe Work Australia, 2025).

What Are Common Causes of Fatigue?

• Long or irregular hours and shift work – particularly night shifts or times where you should be sleeping or resting.
• Tasks or responsibilities that may be hard work physical and mentally, as well as having a high workload or many repetitive tasks.
• Insufficient breaks or recovery time.
• Workplace environment – for example poor air quality, overly hot or loud.
• Individual factors – overall health, sleep conditions, age and the time since you last slept.

How PCBUs Must Apply the New Code

PCBUs must manage fatigue risks so far as reasonably practicable. In order to do this, the risk management process can be used that has been previously outlined in the ‘How to manage work health and safety risks’ Code of Practice.

1. Identify hazards. This would involve identifying certain elements of work that expose workers to fatigue risks. For example, working long hours, high workload, poor working conditions, and repetitive or long exposure to these things.
2. Assess risks: This will assist PCBUs in determining the best way to manage these risks. Specifically, you can identify which workers are at risk, what is causing them to face those risks, and implement and determine the effectiveness of control measures.
3. Control risks: PCBUs have the responsibility of eliminating WHS risks “so far as reasonably practicable” (Safe Work Australia, 2025). For example, if it is not possible to shorten longer shifts, PCBUs should implement adequate and more frequent breaks, as well as creating an acceptable temperature for the work environment with less physical demands.
4. Review controls. Finally, it is important to regularly evaluate whether control measures are being effectively managed. This involves ensuring these are correctly set up and used suitably, as well as confirming they are fit for the work environment.

Practical Steps for Workplaces

Some examples of feasible solutions and strategies that workplaces can implement in line with this new Code of Practice include:

• Update or create a fatigue management policy.
• Train leaders and workers on recognising and reporting fatigue.
• Encourage a supportive culture where speaking up is normal.
• Monitor patterns of overtime, long hours, or incident trends.

The new Model Code of Practice gives workplaces clear guidelines on how to manage fatigue. By following this new Code, businesses can improve safety, wellbeing and compliance.

You can find out more about this new Model Code of Practice for managing the risk of fatigue at work on the Safe Work Australia website. Click here to visit their website and to read the full documentation.