Manage overtime

Health and safety issues

When allocating overtime, you need to be aware of health and safety considerations, particularly:

• Fatigue - excessive overtime may make workers tired. They may then pose a risk to themselves or others, particularly if they are driving a vehicle or using dangerous or heavy machinery. Carry out risk assessments to ensure any dangers are identified and effectively managed.
• Avoid allocating excessive overtime to shift workers, particularly those working at night. Any health problems that may result from disturbance of the body's normal rhythms, for example diabetes, will be made worse by fatigue. See our guide on how to meet the need for work-life balance.
• Avoid situations where employees work alone. This is particularly important in potentially hazardous environments such as factories or where employees are otherwise vulnerable. If working alone is the only solution, check that employees do not have any medical condition making it unsuitable for them to work alone, for example epilepsy. You have a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace. See our guide on how to ensure the safety of lone workers.

You may also want to consider additional security for staff working late at night, eg improved car park lighting or safe transport home.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Overtime and employment contracts
• Health and safety issues
• Pros and cons of overtime
• Part-time employees and alternatives
• Using overtime successfully
• Time off in lieu
• Here's how I manage working hours to control costs and avoid unnecessary pressure on staff

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