sleep deprivation

Nurses get less sleep than the rest of us

July 15, 2019

The people who take care of you while you’re in the hospital aren’t getting enough sleep - which could have serious implications for patient safety, according to a study published in Sleep. Sleep deprivation and disorders are believed to contribute significantly to the nearly 100,000 deaths attributable to medical errors that occur in U.S. hospitals each year.

Sleep deprivation raises fatigued driving accidents

Sleep deprivation raises risk of fatigue driving accidents

Keep your eyes on the road

Benita Mehta

June 3, 2019

Driving while fatigued can be a common occurrence for long-haul truck drivers, and studies have shown it can be as problematic as driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Yet almost a third of people in a AAA survey said at least once in the prior month they had driven while so tired that they could barely keep their eyes open.

The danger of taking tiredness for granted

Fatigued? Tell me about it…

Dave Johnson

March 22, 2019

Last month in Seattle the National Safety Council's Campbell Institute held a conference where one of the major topics was, "Fatigue: Managing the Hidden Risk." My question: What's so "hidden" about fatigue? Everyone you talk to in today's 24/7 wired world is fatigued, tired, beat. Just ask them.

New findings explain how melatonin promotes sleep

May 17, 2018

An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have some type of sleep disorder, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some turn to melatonin supplements to help them fall asleep. Melatonin is a hormone known to promote sleep, but its underlying mechanisms are unknown. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have discovered how melatonin suppresses neurons in the brain that keeps you awake and alert.

NSC to employers: Your workers may be especially tired on Monday

As daylight saving time begins, NSC urges organizations to invest in worker sleep health

March 9, 2018

As most parts of the country prepare to turn clocks ahead one hour, the National Safety Council is cautioning employers that workers in certain positions and industries who already have a higher risk of being drowsy may be even more tired than usual next Monday. According to a new NSC report, Tired at Work: How fatigue affects our bodies, shift workers, medical staff, emergency responders, military personnel, any worker over age 40, and transportation professionals – especially those who work rotating or night shifts – always are at increased risk for circadian misalignment, which occurs when we force ourselves to stay awake at hours when our bodies believe we should be sleeping.

Fatigue is the enemy of many oil and gas workers

Dave Johnson

March 7, 2018

In the past decade, more than 300 oil and gas workers were killed in highway crashes, the largest cause of fatalities in the industry. Many of these deaths were due in part to oil field exemptions from highway safety rules that allow truckers to work longer hours than drivers in most other industries, according to an article in The New York Times.

Study: Stress takes toll on nurses’ health

June 14, 2017

A majority of America’s nurses admit they are stressed out, consuming too much junk food and getting too little sleep, says a Ball State University study. The Impact of Perceived Stress and Coping Adequacy on the Health of Nurses: A Pilot Investigation, published in the online journal Nursing Research and Practice, found that nurses with high stress and poor coping had difficulty with patients, working in teams, communicating with co-workers and performing their jobs efficiently.

Short sleep duration by occupation group

March 9, 2017

March is Sleep Awareness Month. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society determined that adults require at least 7 hours of sleep per day to promote optimal health. Short sleep duration (< 7 hours per day) has been linked to various negative health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression, as well as safety issues related to drowsy driving and injuries.

Occupational fatigue—new insights on causes and consequences

Review shows mental and physical toll of workplace fatigue

October 11, 2016

Sleep loss and poor working conditions are the most important causes of occupational fatigue—which can impair mental and physical performance with the potential for serious errors and injuries, reports a review and update in the October Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

Sleepy, Grumpy, Dumpy, and Your Safety

David Sarkus MS, CSP

July 21, 2016

I’m not sure about you, but when I don’t sleep well, I can be pretty miserable. I’m not much fun to be around and I don’t work well – I can’t sustain my focus. We already know that sleep deprivation among workers is a billion-dollar problem across the globe. But how about the absence of sleep quality for your leaders – what impact does it have on subordinates?