Focusing on fatigue

Busy people with busy lives can become overtired and the result has far-reaching implications for all activities at home and at work.

According to the National Safety Council, more than 37 percent of workers are sleep deprived and that goes double for night shift workers. More than 60 percent of night shift workers complain about sleep loss.

What’s more people become less focused on safety as they become more tired. Fatigued workers cost employers about $1,200 per employee annually.

The perils of driving while fatigued are perhaps the most obvious.
According to the NSC:

* A driver is more than three times more likely to die in an accident if the driver is fatigued.

* Drowsy driving takes the lives of more than 5,000 people each year.

* Losing two hours of sleep has the same impact on driving as two beers.

* Being awake for more than 20 hours is the equivalent of being drunk.

The cost of fatigue is not felt just in driving and work activities, however. The cost of sleep deprived living is bad health.

Sleep deprived living has been linked to depression, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Stay safe with a minimum of seven hours of sleep every night. Make it a priority.