According to a new National Safety Council (NSC) survey-based report, 43% of Americans say they do not get enough sleep to mitigate critical risks that can jeopardize safety at work and on the roads.
More than three-quarters (81%) of the respondents have jobs that are high risk for fatigue – positions that require sustained attention or are physically or cognitively demanding, such as driving a vehicle or working at a construction site, according to the report, Fatigue in the Workplace: Causes & Consequences of Employee Fatigue.
The survey also that found 97 percent of Americans claim to have at least one of the leading nine risk factors for fatigue, which include working at night or in the early morning, working long shifts without regular breaks, working more than 50 hours each week and enduring long commutes.
“These findings are a literal wake-up call: When we’re tired, we can put ourselves and others at risk,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, NSC president and CEO. “We hope Americans recognize that impairment stems not just from alcohol and drugs, but lack of restorative rest – fitness for duty starts with getting a good night’s sleep.”
