Sleep Deprivation a Bigger Problem for Shift Workers
A 2002 National Sleep Foundation poll estimates that as many as 47 million adult workers did not get enough sleep to be fully alert the next day. This problem was the most serious among shift workers, who sleep about 6.5 hours a night during the week as opposed to 6.8 to 6.9 hours for other respondents. A shift worker is anyone who does not work the typical 9 to 5 business day, and includes millions of Americans like doctors, nurses, pilots, police officers, commercial drivers, customer service reps and more.
Shift workers are more likely to suffer from insomnia as well as sleep deprivation. This can create workforce problems such as poor performance, irritability, depression and difficulties with personal relationships. While you can't control an employee's sleep at home, the National Sleep Foundation says you can do a number of things to help. They offer five significant steps that promote alertness in the work place, particularly for shift workers.
- Replace ineffective schedules. Ask your employees their opinion on how the schedule works for them and examine accident rates over time and across different shifts. Ask them to record their sleep hours. If the daily averages are below 6.5 hours, something needs to change.
- Reduce excessive overtime. When overtime levels exceed 20% of the total labor hours, employees are more likely to experience problems with sleepiness and fatigue.
- Adopt policies that promote alertness. Allow controlled naps in the workplace to head off uncontrolled naps that happen when employees fall asleep on the job. Set policy restrictions that allow a time, frequency and location for naps at work so employees know what is allowed.
- Educate workers about sleep. People tend to ignore general guidelines such as "get 8 hours of sleep." Instead, teach employees about all aspects of sleep such as sleep hygiene, sleep debt, sleep problems, and adapting to shift work. Give employees a sample schedule of work and sleep times for each shift as a guideline.
- Improve the work environment. See if your facilities contribute to sleepy employees. Take a look at your lighting. Some specialists in light therapy suggest at least 1,000 lux to get the full biological benefits of light. Aroma, sound, temperature, ventilation, and rest and exercise areas all affect the energy level at work.
For more information on how you can promote workplace alertness, visit the National Sleep Foundation's website at sleepfoundation.org.
