What is a fit-for-work declaration?

A fit-for-work declaration is a form completed by a worker (and reviewed by a supervisor) to confirm that the worker is physically and mentally capable of performing their duties safely. It typically covers fatigue indicators such as hours of sleep, consecutive days worked and shift length, as well as impairment factors including alcohol consumption, medication use and general health. In Australia, employers have a duty under WHS legislation to manage fatigue-related risks, and a fit-for-work declaration is a practical control measure used across construction, mining, transport and other safety-critical industries.

What are the signs of fatigue at work?

Common signs of fatigue include excessive yawning, difficulty concentrating, slower reaction times, impaired decision-making, irritability, microsleeps (brief involuntary episodes of sleep), blurred vision, reduced coordination and an increased tendency to make errors. A fatigued worker may also appear drowsy, disengaged or unable to follow routine procedures. Supervisors should be trained to recognise these signs and take appropriate action, which may include standing the worker down, reassigning them to a lower-risk task or arranging a medical assessment.

Is the fit-for-work declaration template free to use?

Yes. Download and use this fatigue fit-for-work declaration for free. Open the file in your browser and use Print then Save as PDF. No MapTrack account is required. If you want digital fatigue declarations completed on mobile devices with automated shift tracking, supervisor alerts and trend reporting across your workforce, MapTrack can help. Book a demo to see how.

What should a supervisor do if a worker declares they are not fit for work?

If a worker declares they are not fit for work, the supervisor must not allow them to perform safety-critical tasks. Depending on the circumstances, the supervisor may reassign the worker to a lower-risk duty, stand the worker down with pay for the remainder of the shift, arrange for the worker to be transported home safely, or refer the worker for a medical assessment. The action taken must be recorded on the declaration form. Under WHS legislation, the PCBU has a duty to manage fatigue risks, and allowing a fatigued worker to continue safety-critical work could constitute a breach of the primary duty of care.

Free fatigue / fit-for-work declaration

Q: When should a fatigue declaration be completed?

A fatigue declaration should be completed at the start of each shift before the worker begins any safety-critical task. It is particularly important for night shifts, extended shifts longer than 10 hours, fly-in fly-out (FIFO) rotations, early morning starts and any work following a short break between shifts. Some organisations also require a declaration after a break or rest period if the worker has been stood down due to fatigue. Check your fatigue management plan and your state or territory WHS code of practice for specific requirements.

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Free fatigue / fit-for-work declaration (PDF-ready). Covers sleep hours, shift length, medications, fitness self-assessment and sign-off. Download free.

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 3 May 2026

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What is a fatigue / fit-for-work declaration?

A fit-for-work declaration is a form used to confirm that a worker is physically and mentally capable of performing their duties safely at the start of a shift. It assesses fatigue indicators including hours of sleep, consecutive days worked and shift duration, as well as impairment factors such as alcohol consumption, medication use and general health. Under Australian WHS legislation, both employers and workers have duties to manage fatigue risks. A fit-for-work declaration is a practical, documented control used in construction, mining, transport, oil and gas and other safety-critical industries to demonstrate that fatigue has been assessed and managed.

Fatigue is a significant contributing factor in workplace incidents, particularly in industries that involve shift work, long hours, fly-in fly-out rosters or safety-critical tasks such as operating heavy plant, driving vehicles or working at heights. Safe Work Australia recognises fatigue as a hazard that must be managed under WHS legislation, and a fit-for-work declaration is one of the most effective frontline controls. WHS Regulations 2011, Part 4.7, and Safe Work Australia's Guide for Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work both require PCBUs to manage fatigue as a workplace health risk. In industries such as mining, transport and construction, fatigue-related incidents account for a significant proportion of serious injuries, which is why regulators expect documented controls at the start of every shift.

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Benefits of using this fatigue / fit-for-work declaration

Early identification of fatigue: structured questions surface fatigue risks before work begins, allowing intervention before an incident occurs.
Worker self-awareness: completing the declaration prompts workers to honestly assess their own fitness, encouraging personal responsibility for safety.
Regulatory compliance: meets WHS fatigue management obligations and demonstrates due diligence to regulators and auditors.
Supervisor visibility: the supervisor assessment section ensures a second pair of eyes reviews the worker's fitness before they start safety-critical tasks.
Audit trail: signed declarations create a defensible record for audits, investigations and insurance claims.
Trend analysis: reviewing declarations over time reveals patterns (e.g. specific shifts, roles or rosters with higher fatigue risk) and drives roster improvements.

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What to include in a fatigue / fit-for-work declaration

This fatigue / fit-for-work declaration covers 7 key areas:

Worker details: name, position/role, date, shift start time, shift end time, site/location.
Fatigue assessment: hours of sleep in the last 24 hours, hours of sleep in the last 48 hours, hours since last sleep, current shift length, consecutive days worked, time since last day off.
Impairment questions: alcohol consumption in the last 12 hours (yes/no), medication that may affect ability to work safely (yes/no, with details), feeling fatigued, drowsy or unwell (yes/no).
Fitness declaration: worker declares they are fit for work and not impaired by fatigue, illness, medication, alcohol or other substances.
Worker signature: signed and dated by the worker.
Supervisor assessment: does the worker appear fit for work (yes/no), action taken if no (stood down, reassigned, medical assessment, other).
Supervisor sign-off: signed and dated by the supervisor.

How to use this fatigue / fit-for-work declaration

Fill in worker details - name, position, date, shift start/end times and site location.: Record your full name, job title or position, the date and the exact shift start and end times. Include the site or location name so the form can be traced to a specific workplace in the event of an audit or investigation.
Complete the fatigue assessment - record hours of sleep, hours since last sleep, shift length, consecutive days worked and time since last day off.: Be accurate with these figures as they form the factual basis of the fatigue risk assessment. Less than five hours of sleep in the prior 24 hours, or more than 14 consecutive days worked, are common trigger thresholds that require supervisor review and possible intervention.
Answer the impairment questions honestly - alcohol consumption, medication use and how you are feeling.: Declare any alcohol consumed in the last 12 hours, any medication that may cause drowsiness or impair judgement, and whether you feel unwell, fatigued or drowsy. Honest answers protect you and your workmates. Providing false information may breach your WHS duties as a worker.
Read the fitness declaration and sign to confirm you are fit for work.: By signing you are declaring that you have assessed your own fitness and believe you are capable of performing your duties safely. If you are unsure whether you are fit, speak with your supervisor before signing.
Present the completed form to your supervisor for review.: Hand the form to your direct supervisor or the person responsible for fatigue management on site. Allow them time to review your responses and ask follow-up questions if needed before the shift begins.
The supervisor assesses whether the worker appears fit for work. If not, the supervisor records the action taken (stood down, reassigned, medical assessment or other).: The supervisor should observe the worker for visible signs of fatigue such as excessive yawning, red eyes, slow responses or difficulty concentrating. If concerns exist, the supervisor must take action and record it on the form, even if the worker has self-declared as fit.
The supervisor signs and dates the form to complete the process.: The supervisor signature confirms they have reviewed the declaration, assessed the worker and are satisfied the worker is fit for duty. File the completed form as part of your fatigue management records for audit and compliance purposes.

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How often should you complete this report?

A fatigue / fit-for-work declaration should be completed at the start of every shift, particularly for night shifts, extended shifts (over 10 hours), early morning starts and any work following a short break between shifts. In industries such as mining, oil and gas, and transport, fatigue declarations are typically mandatory before every shift as part of the fatigue management plan. A declaration should also be completed after any rest break if a worker has been stood down due to fatigue. Check your organisation's fatigue management procedure and your state or territory WHS code of practice (e.g. the national guide for managing the risk of fatigue at work) for specific requirements.

Under the WHS Act 2011 (Section 19), the PCBU has a primary duty of care to ensure the health and safety of workers so far as is reasonably practicable, which includes managing fatigue risks. Safe Work Australia's Guide for Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work recommends that fatigue management plans include regular fitness-for-duty assessments, particularly for safety-critical roles. For heavy vehicle drivers and transport operators, the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) Chain of Responsibility provisions place specific obligations on all parties in the supply chain to prevent driver fatigue.

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Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

WHS Act 2011 (Section 19 - Primary duty of care)
Safe Work Australia - Guide for Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work
WHS Regulations 2011 - Part 3.2 (managing risks to health and safety)
Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) - Chain of Responsibility provisions

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