OHP's FRMS methodology is grounded in occupational physiology research rather than commercial rostering software, applying ISO 7933:2023 (Predicted Heat Strain), AS 4967:2019, and AS/NZS 4824:2021 to model fatigue exposure against real operational demand, not generic shift-pattern benchmarks.
Why this differs from a standard fatigue audit
Most FRM providers assess rosters against fatigue-likelihood scoring tools calibrated on general industry data. OHP's approach starts from the physiological floor: what the human body and cognitive system can actually sustain under the specific thermal, cognitive, and physical load of the role in question. This distinction matters most in high-hazard environments where standard fatigue models understate risk: aviation crew on irregular duty cycles, emergency services personnel on extended callouts, defence roles combining heat exposure with sustained cognitive demand.
Anthony Walker, OHP's founder, holds a PhD in thermal and occupational physiology and spent 15 years in operational firefighting command with ACT Fire and Rescue, including station officer rank. That combination, peer-reviewed physiological research (37 published outputs, nearly 600 citations) paired with lived operational command, is why OHP's FRMS work models fatigue as a physiological and cognitive load problem specific to the role, not a generic scheduling optimisation.
How OHP builds an FRMS: The Crucible Method
OHP's FRMS engagements follow The Crucible Method, a three-stage build:
Scan. A structured audit of current rostering, workload, handover practices, and incident/near-miss history against fatigue-likelihood and physiological demand models. This produces a data-backed picture of where fatigue risk actually sits in the organisation, rather than where policy assumes it sits.
Sprint. A focused design phase producing the FRMS framework itself: fatigue risk assessment tools, roster design principles, control measures, and governance structure, tested against the operational constraints identified in Scan.
Build. Implementation support, training, and embedding the FRMS into standing operational practice, with a defined reassessment cycle so the system stays current as rostering, staffing, or operational tempo changes.
Who this is for
OHP's FRMS work is built for organisations where a fatigue-related error has genuine consequence: defence commands, aviation operators, emergency services agencies, and resources-sector operations running extended or irregular shift cycles. It is not built as a generic wellbeing or engagement initiative; it is a safety and operational reliability system.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS)?
An FRMS is a structured framework for identifying, assessing, and controlling fatigue-related risk across frontline operational teams. It typically includes fatigue risk assessment tools, roster design standards, reporting mechanisms, and a governance structure for ongoing review, and in high-hazard sectors it is often a regulatory or panel-procurement requirement rather than optional practice.
How is OHP's FRMS approach different from standard fatigue consulting?
OHP models fatigue risk against physiological and cognitive demand data specific to the role, drawing on occupational physiology research (ISO 7933:2023, AS 4967:2019, AS/NZS 4824:2021) rather than applying generic industry fatigue-likelihood scores. This produces control measures calibrated to the actual operational environment rather than a standardised roster template.
Which industries does OHP's FRMS work cover?
Defence, aviation, emergency services, and resources-sector operations with rostered or irregular-hours frontline teams operating in physically or cognitively demanding conditions.
How long does an FRMS engagement take?
Timeframes vary by organisational scale and existing data maturity. The Scan phase (diagnostic) typically runs several weeks; Sprint (framework design) and Build (implementation) are scoped against the specific organisation once Scan findings are in.
Ready to see where fatigue risk actually sits in your operation? The free Crucible Diagnostic takes 15 minutes and shows you.