Vintage is physically and mentally very demanding It’s no secret that many vineyard managers and winemakers work through the night during this period.
Compressed vintages mean some winemakers are forced to harvest around the clock when both red and white grapes ripen at once.
You can prevent many of the injuries and much of the ill-health that take people away from work by planning to manage risk. Each injury or illness means people can't work, whether it's for an hour, a day, or permanently. This impacts on the productivity of the business and on your ability to enjoy the lifestyle offered by owning a vineyard or winery.
Managing risk is not about documents and manuals. It’s about thinking and talking about risks and doing what needs to be done to stay healthy and safe every day.

Vintage is everything. It can be exhausting . . . It’s not unheard of to do eighteen hour days for seven days straight during vintage. For eight weeks or so you basically live on adrenaline and coffee and beer.

James Becker, Newcastle Herald

Why is fatigue a problem in the workplace?

Fatigue results from a lack of sleep, but it is more than feeling tired and drowsy. In a work context, fatigue reduces a person’s ability to perform work safely and effectively. Prolonged mental activity or long periods of stress or anxiety increases the risk of injuries or other accidents.
Fatigue needs to be managed and controlled, like other hazards, as part of the duty of care. Both employers and workers have a duty to managing the risks associated with fatigue.
A planned and systematic approach to assessing and managing the risks associated with fatigue can improve the health and safety of workers.
 

Where can I find out more about fatigue?

There is a lot of information available online and in publications. Some useful links include:

Safe Work Australia has guidance for general industry on preventing and managing fatigue, as well as a code of practice on managing the work environment and facilities

Managing the risk of fatigue

Fatigue management a workers guide

SafeWork NSW and the NSW Wine Industry Association have developmed a guide providing practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking and workers on managing health and safety risks within the winery.

NSW Guide to managing risks in wineries

For something more user friendly that doesn’t involve trawling through pages and pages download the  Preventing Fatigue Safety Poster

Short video

 

Tips for Managing Workplace Fatigue