Fatigue management in a high-risk environment

We had a wonderful final presentation for 2025, given by Jane Skillen, OHS Adviser for Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) and a CSG member. 

Jane commenced her presentation with a brief introduction of VIFM’s 24/7 services to both deceased and living persons.  VIFM also oversees the Donor Tissue Bank and contributes to international and domestic research programs.

Her informative fatigue management case study was based on the state-wide clinical forensic medicine team, who respond to physical assault examinations, fitness for interview assessments and traffic blood testing. Within this team the Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNE) are a 100% casual workforce, most with secondary nursing employment. Eighty percent are female, with the majority aged between 40-60 years.

While WorkSafe has a very specific definition of work-related fatigue, VIFM now applies a wider multi-dimensional definition to include mental, physical and emotional fatigue. This was done after exploring the factors contributing to fatigue at work using a robust strategic risk-based approach, in consultation with the FNEs.  Jane’s presentation delves deeply into this risk assessment and the control measures introduced to manage the risks associated with fatigue impairment in FNEs.

Feedback from the presentation:

“Sensational piece of work Jane!”

“Valuable presentation and thank you very much for sharing. Your colleagues do some amazing work under such extraordinary circumstances. Great learnings for us.”

I wholeheartedly agree with that feedback; I really liked the education material and focus on self-care.

Financial members can gain further advcie on fatigue management from David Caple's presentation in 2016, Managing fatigue: getting it right, in the Speakers archive (log in first).

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J Skillen - Fatigue management in a high-risk environment

Date & Time: Tuesday 11 November 2025, noon

CSG Hybrid Lunchtime Presentation - via zoom or in person

Speaker:  Jane Skillen, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine

Venue:  Regus Yarra Room, 50th floor, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne

Topic: Fatigue management in a high-risk environment

Fatigue in the workplace can be a critical safety and psychosocial risk. However, some contributing factors are often overlooked, resulting in poor management of the issue.

At our final in-person presentation for 2025 on 11 November, Jane Skillen, OHS Advisor at Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, will provide an informative case study on managing fatigue for clinical forensic nurses in regional Victoria.

She will discuss the implications of being impaired by fatigue in such a high-risk work environment, and the importance of recognising both external and workplace factors that can contribute to it.

Her talk will outline strategies to identify fatigue-related concerns early, and what a timely intervention looks like. Come along in person to take advantage of Jane’s extensive experience in OHS and continue the discussion after the formal event is over.

Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 10 November.  When booking, please ensure you select the November Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.

RSVP Here