Regulation change · 30 Oct 2026
News
Fatigue in the news
What regulators, courts and investigators in the United Kingdom have found about workplace fatigue, and the regulation changes on the way, newest first.
30
fatigue-related findings, prosecutions and investigations on record.
United Kingdom · from published sources
Latest
Stories and regulation changes
October 2026
Regulation change · 30 Oct 2026
From 6 Apr 2026 statutory sick pay is due from the first day of sickness across the UK. In Great Britain you must also keep holiday records for 6 years (from 6 Apr 2026), most tribunal claims can be brought up to 6 months after the event (from 1 Oct 2026), and from 30 Oct 2026 you must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of staff and must not permit harassment of staff by third parties such as customers.
For shipping, from 30 Oct 2026 the Seafarers' Wages Act 2023 became the Seafarers (Wages and Working Conditions) Act 2023, which allows regulations on work periods, rest and fatigue for frequent UK port services; none have been made yet.
Source
July 2026
Regulation change · 1 Jul 2026
From 1 Jul 2026, goods vans and vehicle combinations over 2.5 t on UK-EU international journeys must follow the drivers' hours rules and use a smart tachograph (version 2).
This applies to hire or reward work, and to own-account work where driving is the driver's main activity. Vehicles up to 3.5 t working only in the UK are unaffected. Separately, from 1 Jun 2026 zero-emission goods vehicles over 3.5 t and up to 4.25 t are exempt from the assimilated drivers' hours and tachograph rules in Great Britain.
Source
October 2025
Story · Oct 2025 · Scotland, United Kingdom
Fishing vessel lost after skipper falls asleep on watch
- Safety
A fishing vessel grounded on rocks off the Scottish coast and was lost; all three crew were rescued uninjured. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the skipper fell asleep while on watch, with acute fatigue compounded by illness and insufficient rest, lone watchkeeping and ineffective watch alarms.
Case UK-maritime-01Report an issue
June 2025
Story · Jun 2025 · Scotland, United Kingdom
Fishing vessel lost; lone skipper highly likely fatigued from week's schedule
- Safety
A fishing vessel grounded on an island in a Scottish sea loch and was lost. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the skipper, the lone watchkeeper at the time, was highly likely fatigued because of his schedule in the week before the accident.
Case UK-maritime-02Report an issue
December 2024
Story · Dec 2024 · England, United Kingdom
Passenger train hits buffer stops at a city terminus after driver microsleep
- Safety
A passenger train failed to stop and struck the buffer stops at low speed at a major city station; no one was injured. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found the driver almost certainly had a microsleep due to fatigue, and that the base roster raised fatigue risk and the driver had worked many rest days.
Case UK-rail-01Report an issue
November 2023
Story · Nov 2023 · Scotland, United Kingdom
Prawn trawler lost after skipper falls asleep following all-night repair
- Safety
A prawn trawler ran aground at the entrance to a Scottish sea loch and was lost. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the skipper fell asleep in the wheelhouse after sailing early despite staying awake overnight on repairs, with a significant sleep debt from normal fishing routines and non-compliant hours of rest.
Case UK-maritime-03Report an issue
October 2022
Story · Oct 2022 · England, United Kingdom
Tanker damages estuary jetty under severely fatigued port pilot
- Safety
A chemical tanker, under the conduct of a port authority pilot, struck a jetty in a river estuary and grounded; the jetty was severely damaged and took 11 months to recover. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the pilot was highly likely to have been severely fatigued.
Case UK-ports-01Report an issue
July 2022
Story · Jul 2022 · England, United Kingdom
Freight trains collide after driver loses awareness; undiagnosed sleep disorder
- Safety
Two freight trains run by a rail freight operator collided at a junction; one driver was briefly hospitalised. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found the driver lost awareness probably due to fatigue, with poor-quality rest primarily caused by an undiagnosed sleep condition, and the employer had not detected the risk.
Case UK-rail-02Report an issue
Story · Jul 2022 · Scotland, United Kingdom
Passenger ferry runs aground; fatigue led to loss of awareness
- Safety
A ro-ro passenger ferry run by a local ferry operator ran aground on a small island off the Scottish coast with passengers on board. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found that fatigue led to loss of awareness at a critical point in the passage, alongside routinely passing too close to land.
Case UK-maritime-04Report an issue
March 2022
Story · Mar 2022 · England, United Kingdom
Business jet terrain warning on approach; fatigue may have contributed
- Safety
A business jet flew an unstable non-precision approach to a regional airport in cloud, triggering a terrain warning. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch found that fatigue and miscommunication may have been contributory factors.
Case UK-aviation-01Report an issue
October 2021
Story · Oct 2021 · England, United Kingdom
Suburban train hits buffer stop; driver significantly fatigued
- Safety
A suburban passenger train struck the buffer stop at a terminus station at about 7.7 mph; there were no serious injuries. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found the driver lost awareness probably because he was significantly fatigued, had not reported it, and his fatigue was not identified when he signed on.
Case UK-rail-03Report an issue
May 2021
Story · May 2021 · England, United Kingdom
Rail grinding train passes red signal, near miss with passenger train
- Safety
A rail grinding train passed a signal at danger at a junction, leading to a near miss with an empty passenger train. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found the driver probably did not control speed because of fatigue, with the operator's fatigue risk management processes a probable underlying factor.
Case UK-rail-04Report an issue
Story · May 2021 · England, United Kingdom
Road-rail vehicles collide on night works; crane operator fatigue possible
- Safety
Two road-rail vehicles collided during night-shift engineering work on a rail line, and a member of staff suffered life-changing injuries. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found fatigue was a possible factor, as the crane operator had not used the hotel his employers provided to rest before the night shift.
Case UK-construction-01Report an issue
June 2020
Story · Jun 2020 · England, United Kingdom
Passenger train passes signal at danger; probable cause driver fatigue
- Safety
A passenger train passed a signal at danger at a station on a line shared with a metro service, leading to a near miss. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found the probable cause was that the driver was fatigued, and that fatigue may also have affected his decision to reset the train protection equipment.
Case UK-rail-05Report an issue
November 2018
Story · Nov 2018 · England, United Kingdom
Track worker killed; investigators flag fatigue in zero-hours rail labour
- Safety
A track worker employed through a labour supplier was struck and killed by a train near a rail junction. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found he was probably fatigued, and that the supplier's processes had not identified the fatigue risk among zero-hours staff who may juggle several jobs.
Case UK-rail-06Report an issue
November 2016
Story · Nov 2016 · England, United Kingdom
Tram overturns on sharp curve, seven killed; possible driver microsleep
- Safety
A tram overturned on a sharp curve at a junction on a city tram network; seven passengers died and 61 were injured. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found the driver temporarily lost awareness, that a possible explanation was a microsleep linked to fatigue, and found no evidence the shift pattern caused it.
Case UK-rail-07Report an issue
April 2016
Story · Apr 2016 · England, United Kingdom
Train hits tractor at farm crossing; signal box fatigue arrangements inadequate
- Safety
A passenger train struck a tractor and trailer at a user-worked crossing after the signaller gave permission to cross too late; the tractor driver was seriously injured. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found an underlying factor was that fatigue arrangements for signalling staff at the controlling signal box were inadequate.
Case UK-rail-08Report an issue
November 2015
Story · Nov 2015 · England, United Kingdom
Two freight drivers momentarily fall asleep and pass red signals
- Safety
Two freight trains run by a rail freight operator passed signals at danger at two junctions on separate occasions in 2015. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found both drivers were too fatigued to control their trains and said they momentarily fell asleep, after poor sleep in unfit rest facilities near the end of night shifts.
Case UK-rail-09Report an issue
October 2015
Story · Oct 2015 · England, United Kingdom
Night-shift labourers sacked for sleeping win unfair dismissal, but 'eyes closed' halves their awards
- Legal
Two long-serving labourers at a battery recycling plant that casts lead ingots on day and night shifts were dismissed for gross misconduct. A site coordinator said he was "100% sure" both were asleep on a 12-hour night shift. The tribunal found the CCTV largely inconclusive and held that the employer had not proved misconduct, so both dismissals were unfair and in breach of contract. Because both men admitted their eyes may have been closed, even momentarily, their basic and compensatory awards were cut by 50%.
Case UK-manufacturing-01Report an issue
September 2015
Story · Sept 2015 · England, United Kingdom
Intercity train overspeeds through junction; driver fatigued and distracted
- Safety
An intercity passenger service exceeded the speed restriction at a junction. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found it likely the driver had forgotten the restriction because he was distracted and fatigued owing to family issues.
Case UK-rail-10Report an issue
July 2015
Story · Jul 2015 · At sea, Irish Sea
Two trawlers collide, one sinks; both watchkeepers probably fatigued
- Safety
Two stern trawlers collided in the Irish Sea and one sank; no one was injured. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found neither vessel kept a proper lookout and that the wheelhouse watchkeepers on both vessels were probably affected by fatigue.
Case UK-maritime-05Report an issue
June 2013
Story · Jun 2013 · Scotland, United Kingdom
Cargo ship grounds after lone officer of the watch falls asleep
- Safety
A general cargo vessel ran aground off a Scottish island. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the second officer, alone on watch, fell asleep largely through lack of stimulation possibly made worse by fatigue, that alarms were too quiet to wake him and the watch alarm was probably not in use.
Case UK-maritime-06Report an issue
Story · Jun 2013 · England, United Kingdom
Two rail welders killed driving home from night shift after rest rules breached; contractor fined £450,000
- Safety
- Legal
- Financial
Two welders employed by a rail maintenance contractor were killed before dawn when the company van they were in crashed into a parked lorry on a major road while they were returning to the depot after an overnight welding job. The driver had set out early the previous morning for a job that did not go ahead, returned to the depot, and was then sent on the night shift. The rail regulator told the court he was suffering the effects of fatigue and may have fallen asleep or had microsleeps. A jury convicted the company of health and safety offences for failing to manage fatigue, including breaching the 12-hour minimum rest period between duties for safety-critical work, and it was fined £450,000 with £300,000 costs.
Case UK-rail-11Report an issue
March 2013
Story · Mar 2013 · England, United Kingdom
Cargo ship grounds after chief officer asleep on watch for three hours
- Safety
A general cargo vessel ran aground off a group of islands on the English coast. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the chief officer on watch was asleep for more than three hours, likely from cumulative fatigue after working 17 hours in port, with no lookout, the watch alarm off and hours-of-rest records falsified.
Case UK-maritime-07Report an issue
February 2013
Story · Feb 2013 · England, United Kingdom
Cargo ship grounds after lone officer probably falls asleep, alarm off
- Safety
A general cargo vessel ran aground on an offshore sandbank off the English coast. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the officer of the watch was alone on the bridge and probably fell asleep, the bridge watch alarm was switched off and the vessel's position was not adequately monitored.
Case UK-maritime-08Report an issue
January 2011
Story · Jan 2011 · Scotland, United Kingdom
Trawler grounds after skipper falls asleep alone on watch
- Safety
A stern trawler ran aground on a Scottish island; no one was injured. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the skipper, alone on watch, fell asleep and missed a course alteration, likely fatigued by personal stress, a prolonged period without sleep and poor-quality rest before leaving home.
Case UK-maritime-09Report an issue
July 2010
Story · Jul 2010 · Scotland, United Kingdom
Inquiry finds driver fatigue caused agency lorry driver's fatal head-on crash on night delivery run
- Safety
An agency heavy goods vehicle driver returning from an overnight delivery run was killed in the early hours when his articulated lorry crossed into the opposite carriageway of a major road and collided head-on with another lorry. A Fatal Accident Inquiry found the crash was caused by driver fatigue. The sheriff noted that he was working as much as he could, that his domestic duties seemed to allow little time for rest, and that he had been unloading during at least one period recorded as a break. However, the sheriff could not find that defects in the system of working contributed.
Case UK-transport-02Report an issue
March 2008
Story · Mar 2008 · At sea, southern North Sea, United Kingdom
Offshore helicopter strikes crane on helideck; accumulated fatigue possible
- Safety
An offshore helicopter's tail struck the guardrails of a crane while landing on an offshore platform helideck in the southern North Sea; no one was injured. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch listed possible fatigue among the factors, noting the crew were on day 12 of a 14-day tour and the operator thought accumulated fatigue could have contributed.
Case UK-aviation-02Report an issue
July 2006
Story · Jul 2006 · Scotland, United Kingdom
Container ship grounds after fatigued master falls asleep
- Safety
A container vessel ran aground on the Scottish coast. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the grounding occurred because the master fell asleep as a result of being fatigued, cancelling the watch and off-track alarms without being roused, after the lookout had been sent on safety rounds.
Case UK-maritime-10Report an issue
March 2005
Story · Mar 2005 · Scotland, United Kingdom
Air ambulance flight crashes on approach; fatigue a probable factor
- Safety
A light aircraft flying an air ambulance task for a national ambulance service crashed on approach to a regional airport; there were no survivors. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch found a combination of fatigue, workload and lack of recent flying practice probably contributed to the pilot's reduced performance.
Case UK-aviation-03Report an issue
August 2004
Story · Aug 2004 · England, United Kingdom
Fitter crashes van after 19 hours awake; employer liable
- Safety
- Legal
A young kitchen fitter crashed his van at about 10.15pm, some 19 hours after starting work around 3.30am on about four and a half hours' sleep; he suffered catastrophic spinal injuries. The Court of Appeal found he fell asleep and held his employer negligent for the hours it required.
Case UK-construction-02Report an issue
February 2001
Story · Feb 2001 · England, United Kingdom
Driver falls asleep, vehicle leaves motorway onto rail line; ten killed
- Safety
- Legal
A four-wheel drive towing a trailer left a motorway and ran onto a main rail line, where a passenger train struck it and collided with a freight train; ten people died and more than 70 were injured. The High Court found the driver fell asleep after no or almost no sleep in the previous 36 hours.
Case UK-transport-01Report an issue
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