Self-Reported Fatigue and Injury Risk in Paramedics

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Abstract
Background: Paramedics routinely operate in high-stress environments and endure long working hours, contributing to elevated occupational fatigue and increased injury risk. The study aimed to compare fatigue levels between injured and non-injured paramedics and examine associations between self-reported fatigue and self-reported injury among paramedics. Methods: An online survey of paramedics (n=22) assessed self-reported fatigue and injury history using the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery Scale (OFERS) and targeted Likert-based questions, with scores transformed to quantify chronic fatigue, acute fatigue, and inter-shift recovery to identify point prevalence. Data were analysed to compare acute and chronic fatigue scores with injury status. Results: Higher chronic fatigue scores were significantly associated with self-reported injuries within the past six months. No significant differences were found in levels of acute fatigue, inter-shift recovery, or perceived fatigue on rest days between those who were and were not injured. Beliefs about fatigue-related injury risk were consistent across injured and non-injured groups. Conclusion: Chronic fatigue may be a key indicator of injury risk among paramedics. These findings highlight the need for proactive, system-level fatigue management strategies that extend beyond subjective measures and address chronic fatigue as a quantifiable operational risk.

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