Lack Of Sleep Caused By Time Change Results In More Workplace Accidents

March 18, 2013

A study conducted at Michigan State University found that worker safety may be compromised due to a lack of sleep brought on by the time change that occurs each spring.

A story from the Zanesville Times-Recorder explains how researchers examine numerous injury reports recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and found most employees slept a total of 40 minutes less on the evening the time leaps forward an hour each spring. This correlates with more accidents occurring on-the-job.

Utilizing information gathered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, researchers were able to determine that workers who are employed in more hazardous industries tended to be involved in more work-related accidents that resulted in a Catastrophic Injury on the Monday following daylight savings time. This is the equivalent of a 5.7 percent increase in the rate of injuries and results in an average of a 68 percent increase in lost work time.

The study concluded the lack of sleep resulted in workers paying less attention to detail, which caused more accidents to occur. The same lack of attention to detail was also recorded in less dangerous work environments.

The Cleveland Injury Attorneys with Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy encourage employees to get plenty of rest before going to work, so as to prevent accidents that could cause a person to be hurt or killed.

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