diff --git a/src/aare/daq/server.py b/src/aare/daq/server.py
index cb397463..e824eb8b 100644
--- a/src/aare/daq/server.py
+++ b/src/aare/daq/server.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import asyncio
 import hmac
 import io
 import os, time
+import random
+from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
 from typing import AsyncGenerator
 import json
 import cv2
@@ -45,46 +47,19 @@ from aare.daq.automation_runner import PersistentWorkflowRunner
 from aare.daq.automation_api_router import router as workflow_router, set_workflow_dependencies
 
 logger = setup_logger("aareDAQ")
-app = FastAPI()
-register_exception_handlers(app)
 
 # OAuth2 setup
 oauth2_scheme = OAuth2PasswordBearer(tokenUrl="token")
 
-bl = mx_beamline()
-cfg = BeamlineConfig(bl)
-daq = AareDAQ(cfg, bl)
-
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Initialize workflow system
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+# ── Per-worker state: populated inside the lifespan, after fork ──
+bl = None
+cfg = None
+daq = None
+workflow_redis_manager = None
+workflow_runner = None
 
 USE_SIMULATED_WORKFLOW = os.getenv("WORKFLOW_SIMULATION", "0") == "1"
 
-workflow_redis_manager = WorkflowRedisManager(
-    client=cfg._BeamlineConfig__client,  # Reuse existing Redis connection
-    beamline=bl.value,
-)
-
-workflow_runner = PersistentWorkflowRunner(
-    redis_manager=workflow_redis_manager,
-    registry=STATE_REGISTRY,
-    handlers=SIMULATED_HANDLER_REGISTRY if USE_SIMULATED_WORKFLOW else HANDLER_REGISTRY,
-)
-
-if USE_SIMULATED_WORKFLOW:
-    logger.warning("⚠️ Workflow system running in SIMULATION mode - no actual DAQ operations")
-
-set_workflow_dependencies(workflow_redis_manager, workflow_runner, cfg)
-
-# Include the workflow router
-app.include_router(workflow_router)
-
-try:
-    daq.sync_current_sample_from_tell(force=True)
-except Exception as e:
-    logger.warning(f"Initial sample sync from TELL failed: {e}")
-
 _all_pgroups_cache: dict[str, tuple[list[str], float]] = {}
 _ALL_PGROUPS_TTL_S = 60.0  # adjust TTL as needed
 
@@ -97,6 +72,60 @@ _face_detection_state: dict = {
 }
 _face_detection_state_lock = asyncio.Lock()
 
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def lifespan(application: FastAPI):
+    """
+    Runs once per worker process, AFTER fork() and BEFORE serving requests.
+    All stateful / connection-opening initialisation belongs here so that
+    each worker gets its own fresh Redis, BEC, EPICS, and TELL connections.
+    """
+    global bl, cfg, daq, workflow_redis_manager, workflow_runner
+
+    await asyncio.sleep(random.uniform(0.5, 3.0))
+
+    logger.info(f"Worker {os.getpid()} starting initialisation...")
+
+    # ── Core objects (Redis, EPICS PVs, BEC, TELL, JFJoch, etc.) ──
+    bl = mx_beamline()
+    cfg = BeamlineConfig(bl)
+    daq = AareDAQ(cfg, bl)
+
+    # ── Workflow system ──
+    # workflow_redis_manager = WorkflowRedisManager(
+    #     client=cfg._BeamlineConfig__client,  # Reuse this worker's Redis connection
+    #     beamline=bl.value,
+    # )
+    # workflow_runner = PersistentWorkflowRunner(
+    #     redis_manager=workflow_redis_manager,
+    #     registry=STATE_REGISTRY,
+    #     handlers=SIMULATED_HANDLER_REGISTRY if USE_SIMULATED_WORKFLOW else HANDLER_REGISTRY,
+    # )
+    # if USE_SIMULATED_WORKFLOW:
+    #     logger.warning("⚠️ Workflow system running in SIMULATION mode - no actual DAQ operations")
+    #
+    # set_workflow_dependencies(workflow_redis_manager, workflow_runner, cfg)
+
+    # ── Initial TELL sync ──
+    try:
+        daq.sync_current_sample_from_tell(force=True)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"Initial sample sync from TELL failed: {e}")
+
+    # ── Wire callbacks ──
+    daq.set_face_detection_progress_callback(_push_face_detection_progress)
+
+    logger.info(f"Worker {os.getpid()} initialised successfully.")
+
+    yield  # ── application serves requests here ──
+
+    # Shutdown: add cleanup here if needed
+    logger.info(f"Worker {os.getpid()} shutting down.")
+
+app = FastAPI(lifespan=lifespan)
+register_exception_handlers(app)
+
+app.include_router(workflow_router)
+
 def _required_recovery_code() -> str:
     code = os.getenv("AARE_RECOVERY_CODE", "").strip()
     if not code:
@@ -148,8 +177,6 @@ async def face_detection_event_stream() -> AsyncGenerator[str, None]:
     except asyncio.CancelledError:
         return
 
-daq.set_face_detection_progress_callback(_push_face_detection_progress)
-
 @app.post("/token")
 async def login(form_data: OAuth2PasswordRequestForm = Depends()):
     data = await run_in_threadpool(auth.authenticate_user, cfg, form_data)
@@ -1045,15 +1072,12 @@ LOGGING_CONFIG = {
     },
 }
 
-urllib3.disable_warnings()
-
-
 def main():
     # Remove in production!
     urllib3.disable_warnings()
 
     # Run the application using uvicorn
-    uvicorn.run("aare.daq.server:app", host="0.0.0.0", port=5210, workers=4, log_config=LOGGING_CONFIG)
+    uvicorn.run("aare.daq.server:app", host="0.0.0.0", port=5210, workers=2, log_config=LOGGING_CONFIG)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":