Tired Workers Danger to Themselves

Tired workers have been equaled to drunk drivers and are a danger to themselves, says a new government 'The Bedtime Reading' inquiry. It highlights that shifts affecting regular sleep are dangerous and costly to the economy, making employees less productive and at greater risk of accidents, injuries and mistakes.

The federal investigation found professionals with 'safety-critical' jobs, carrying out duties with accuracy and safety, have presented as being less rested. It reasoned that they are more likely to do unusual shifts or be 'on call'. Furthermore, The Bedtime Reading inquiry says shift work is linked to conditions associated with poor sleep, including obesity, sleep disorders, mental health conditions and cancer. Interestingly, the report compared being tired with having a blood alcohol reading of 0.05 and said 23 per cent of all car accidents on Victorian Roads are caused by people who haven't had enough sleep. "Certain types of work, which require high levels of accuracy and concentration, also use shift work as well as night shifts; long shifts and; fly-in-fly-out work that leave workers more prone to accidents due to tiredness." The report found that jobs in the health sector require workers to be 'on call' for long periods are also likely to leave them affected by fatigue.

According to sleep researcher Dr Ian Dunican being awake for 17 hours is the equivalent of being intoxicated at 0.05 per cent. "Workers who are tired have a 50 per cent risk of occupational injury, absenteeism and error or safety violation. Of these at-risk individuals, up to 45 per cent work in safety-sensitive occupations such as law enforcement or public or commercial transport." The study associated lack of sleep with impaired performance in the workplace and says not getting enough sleep leads to workers being less efficient on the job.