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Objective(s)Explain How Sleep Cycles, Hours and
Circadian Rhythm Disturbances Can Develop Into Short- Term, Cumulative and Chronic Effects on Performance and contribute to accidents.
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Why Should We Care ?31% of All Drivers Have Fallen Asleep at
the Wheel Sometime During Their Lifetime
56% of Shift Workers Have Fallen Asleep on the Job
55% of Adults Stated They Experienced Daytime Drowsiness.
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The Human Toll100,000 Fatigue Related Collisions Per
Year1,544 Fatigue Related Deaths Per YearImagine:
A Boeing 727 Crashing Every Six WeeksOr the Titanic Sinking Once a YearOr an Oklahoma City Bombing Every Month
and a Half.
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Who Pays the Costs?
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Where Are We Now?In the Past 20 Years: 158
Hours Added Annually to Our Schedule
Since 1969: 241 Hours Added Yearly to Working Mothers’ Schedule
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What is Fatigue?Fatigue Is a Complex State Characterized
by a Lack of Alertness and Reduced Mental and Physical Performance, Often Accompanied by Drowsiness
Misconception: Fatigue Is Not Just Falling Asleep.
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Fatigue Signs and SymptomsForgetfulnessPoor CommunicationImpaired Decision -
Making SkillsLack of AlertnessSlow Reaction TimeMicrosleep
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Fatigue Signs and Symptoms (cont’d)
Withdrawn BehaviorDepressedMoodyQuick to AngerNo Sense of HumorLack of InterestAlways Tired
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Factors That Affect Fatigue
Time of Day/Circadian EffectsSleep DisordersEnvironmental ConditionsNutritionPhysical FitnessDrugsHealthAge
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Mental Fatigue
Tired and Drowsy Due to Loss of Sleep
Loss of Concentration And/Or Alertness
Diminished Levels of Creativity and Logic.
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Physical Fatigue
A Decrease in Physical Performance
A Feeling of Muscle Discomfort or Soreness
Lack of Energy.
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SLEEPA Highly Complex Physiological Process During Which the Brain and Body Alternate Between Periods of Extreme Activity and Quiet, but Are Never Shut off.
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What Do We Know?Sleep Is a Vital NeedOne-third of Our Life SHOULD BE Spent
AsleepThe Average Person Needs at Least 8
Hours of Uninterrupted SleepSome People Mistakenly Feel They Don’t
Need a Full Night’s Sleep.
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Accumulating a Sleep DebtSleep Loss Is Cumulative and Builds a DebtMost People Get 1 to 1.5 Hours Less Sleep
Per Night Than They NeedPeople whose sleep was restricted to 4 to 5
hours per night for one week needed two full nights sleep to recover vigilance, performance, and normal mood
How Do You Get Out of Sleep Debt? SLEEP!.
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The Two States of SleepState INon-REM Sleep
Physical and Mental Activities Slow
Physical Restoration Occurs
State IIREM: Rapid Eye
MovementExtreme Mental
ActivityMental
RestorationMajor Muscles
Are Paralyzed
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States andStages of Sleep
Effects of Alcohol on SleepBreaks Down Into Sugar and Will
Disrupt SleepEliminates All REM Sleep in First
Half of Sleep PeriodCan Lead to Balancing Act.
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Sleep DisordersChronic InsomniaNarcolepsySleep Apnea Restless Leg SyndromePeriodic Limb Movement Disorder
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Driving Drowsy Affects Performance Like Driving Drunk
19 Hours Without Sleep Is Similar to a BAC of .05%
24 Hours Without Sleep Is Similar to a BAC of .10%.
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0.00%
0.01%
0.02%
0.03%
0.04%
0.05%
0.06%
0.07%
0.08%
0.09%
0.10%
0 HOURS 19 Hours 24 HOURS
Who is Most at Risk?Sleep LossWorking/Operating/Driving
PatternsMidnight Till 0600 amMid-afternoonMany MilesMany HoursMonotony
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Who is Most at Risk? (cont’d) Use of Sedating
MedicationsUntreated Use of
Sedating MedicationsUnrecognized Sleep
DisordersConsumption of
Alcohol.
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Internal Body Clock(Circadian Rhythms)All Animals Have ItIt Runs on About a 24 Hour
CycleAll Human Functions Are
Controlled by It
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Daily Sleepiness and Performance Rhythms
Two Times of Peak Sleepiness Each DayAbout 3 to 5 A.M. About 3 to 5 P.M.
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0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
MidnightNumber ofCollisions
Biological and Social Effects on Shift Workers
60 to 80% Have Chronic Sleep Problems4 to 5 Times More Likely to Have Stomach
Disorders80% Affected by Chronic Fatigue5 to 15 Times More Likely to Suffer From Mood
Swings and DepressionDivorce and Spousal Abuse Rates HigherDrug and Alcohol Abuse Rates Higher
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Incidents Related to Circadian Disruption
Chernobyl 1:23amBhopal 12:40amThree Mile Island 4:00amExxon Valdez 12:04am.
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Incidents Related to Circadian Disruption (cont’d)
Most Mistakes by Rail Employees 3-5amMost Mistakes by Omission 3-5am
SurgeonsNurses Postal WorkersTelephone Operators.
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What to Expect if You Don’t Sleep
Behavioral Problems PerformanceMood SwingsEventually You WILL Sleep.
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What are the costs of fatigue?
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Where Do You Go to Find the Costs?
Examine Crash Data, Incident Logs Review Workers’ Compensation Claims,
Sick Leave, and OSHA 300 Log For DataReview Overtime, or On-call Status
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The Costs? (cont’d)Consider Fatigue As a Possible
Contributing or Causal Factor in All Investigations
Traffic, Industrial/Workplace, Internal, External Incidents: Review With Fatigue in Mind.
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Keys to ChangeKnowledge of Fatigue Awareness of Fatigue’s Effect on Safe OperationsUnderstanding of Your Workplace Safety Culture.
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QUESTIONS?Contact Risk Management Department: 361-888-
0401Risk Manager: Lance C. Esswein [email protected]
Risk Management Specialist: Martha [email protected]