OCTOBER 2022
We all make many decisions every day. Some decisions are automatic and easy; other times decisions can be painstakingly difficult. When confronted with several decisions – large or small, simple or difficult, decision fatigue can set in and cause one to feel overwhelmed by too many choices. Practicing safety and health can be especially overwhelming with the number of hazards on the farm.
The Migrant Clinician’s Network recently featured an article on this topic called: “Decision Fatigue, and Tips on Making Consequential Decisions.” This resource for health care workers is intended to assist staff make sound decisions for their patients and the workplace. The article offers helpful tips and insights into the overall decision-making process to fend off decision fatigue.
It is exhausting to be aware of every decision, and our brains have accommodated that by making some decisions automatically. The more choices we consciously make a day, the harder each one becomes because each decision takes energy.
Check out these UMASH safety and health resources for combatting decision fatigue as you work on the farm.
Farm Safety Check:
The UMASH Farm Safety Check is a quick review to identify and fix potential hazards before they cause harm to your family and employees – and your bottom line. We have checklists for many topics, from roadway safety to managing fatigue.
Stop, Think, Act:
This is a simple, yet powerful safety tool that encourages everyone on the farm to consider the task or chore at hand, to ask themselves how their own actions could contribute to a safe and productive outcome and stop if it can’t be done safely.