Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of moving clocks forward by one hour during spring and summer months, so daylight lasts longer into the evening. The initial loss of sleep when we adjust our clocks can be difficult, but most people like DST as it allows more time for outdoor activities.
The annual ritual in which we "gain" an hour of evening light in the spring and summertime by pushing the clock forward an hour may seem like a harmless shift…after all, we are only losing an hour of sleep on the first night or two, right?
However, studies have consistently found DST to be associated with adverse health & safety effects.
- The risk of fatal traffic accidents increases by 6% in the week following DST.
- Hospitals report a 24% spike in heart attack visits each year on the Monday following DST.
- The overall rate of ischemic stroke is 8% higher during the first two days after DST.
Interestingly, when we set our clocks back an hour in the fall, research shows the opposite trend. Traffic accidents and workplace injuries decrease, and heart-attack visits drop 21% the day after we turn back the clocks.
These Daylight Savings trends highlight how sleep deprivation - even just a small 1-hour change - can affect performance, safety, and health.
Imagine the dangers of sleep deprivation when it is greater than one hour - just look at your average shift worker.
Unfortunately, many shift workers routinely experience more than one hour of sleep restriction.
- The average amount of daytime sleep a shift worker obtains after a night shift is closer to 4-5 hours - significantly less than the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per 24 hours.
Many shift workers do not know how to adjust their lifestyle to minimize the negative effects of working the night shift. As a result, job performance, safety, sleep, health, and family life suffer. These challenges are avoidable when shift workers are provided with the knowledge and strategies to manage the demands of fatigue, sleep, and their work schedule.
One proven strategy to help workers combat the dangers of sleep deprivation is to provide them with training on sleep and fatigue. This type of training not only helps your employees get better quantity and quality of sleep but also helps your bottom line.
CIRCADIAN’s Shiftwork Practices Survey of 550 managers of shiftwork operations showed that when compared with operations that do not provide training, operations that provide some type of sleep and fatigue training have:
- a 33% lower rate of turnover
- a 23% lower rate of absenteeism
CIRCADIAN’s Managing a Shiftwork Lifestyle is a unique education and training program providing shift workers and managers with practical ready-to-use information on circadian rhythms, sleep, nutrition, health, exercise, stress management, and family/social life. It’s a great way to support your workforce and provide them with the tools to succeed at home and work.
Case Study: Pre- & Post-Results After Providing Managing a Shiftwork Lifestyle Training
Following this training, most facilities experience an improvement in accident rates as well as shift worker health and well-being. For example, one client after providing CIRCADIAN’s Managing a Shiftwork Lifestyle training reported several noteworthy benefits their employees experienced:
- Daytime Sleep Increased by 21% after working a night shift
- GI Index Scores Improved by 24%
- Excessive Caffeine Use Decreased by 33%
- 54% of Attendees Reported Making a Change to their sleep environment
How much would your workforce benefit from being better rested, healthier, and more alert?
