Rostima details new suite for detecting tired workers

New suite features an enhanced fatigue management algorithm and rules engine that will help managers create optimised work schedules

Workforce management software specialist Rostima today announced a June launch date for the new version of its flagship Enterprise Plus suite featuring enhanced scheduling functionality designed to limit the risk of staff fatigue.

Company founder Steve Aitken said the updated suite, which is currently in beta, would be available from the 1 June and would help organisations with shift workers limit workplace risks and enhance performance.

The new suite features an enhanced fatigue management algorithm and rules engine, which calculates a fatigue index for staff based on the shift patterns they are being asked to work. Aitken said that the index applies a score of one to nine to staff, with one representing high levels of alertness and scores of seven or above representing high levels of fatigue and an increased risk of potentially dangerous micro-sleeps.

Aitken said that this functionality underpins three modules within the suite: a schedule creation engine, which automatically creates optimised schedules that limit the risk of fatigue and rotates correctly between day and night shifts to ensure minimum disruption to workers’ body clocks; a working time engine, which tracks any schedule changes and automatically warns managers if the changes increase the risk of worker fatigue; and a duty manager toolset that ensures that task assignment and breaks during a shift are optimised to limit staff tiredness.

"If there aren’t enough staff for the schedule the suite will also flag up the increased risk to managers," Aitken added.

Rostima said that the new functionality would prove particularly useful to any organisation having to schedule nightshifts, including rail companies, distribution firms, hospitals, and police and fire services.