If you are someone who always feels tired at work you may be happy to know you are definitely not alone. According to a report by the National Safety Council, 76% of Americans say they feel tired at work, with 53% feeling less productive and 44% feeling less focused. Such fatigue could be dangerous, since it could lead to critical safety errors, which could result in injury or worse.
Overall, 43% of Americans admit their lack of sleep is an issue on the job and could jeopardize safety at work or on the roads, while 91% of workers have jobs that leave them open to factors that cause fatigue, like early morning shifts, long shifts without breaks, or long commutes.
While you may not think being a little drowsy isn't that big of a deal, it is when you consider 81% of the survey respondents have jobs that require sustained attention or that are physically and cognitively demanding, like driving a vehicle or working at a construction site. What’s more, 13% of workplace injuries can be blamed on fatigue, while 21% of fatal car crashes can be blamed on sleepy drivers.
Among the other survey findings:
- 41% work high-risk hours, at least occasionally.
- 39% have trouble remembering things at work because of fatigue.
- 31% commute 30 minutes or more, which exacerbates the chances of falling asleep behind the wheel.
- 27% have trouble making decisions because of fatigue.
- 10% do not get regular rest breaks.
Source: National Safety Council