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Erschienen in:
01.09.2010 | Original Contribution
How sleepy are construction workers during extended shifts?
An objective investigation of spontaneous pupillary oscillations in tunnel workmen
Erschienen in: Somnologie | Ausgabe 3/2010
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Question of the study
Accidents at work are often caused by sleepiness and their prevention is of importance for ensuring safety at the workplace. In this study, we performed an objective, physiological assessment of sleepiness in construction workers at different hours of extended day shift.
Subjects and methods
A total of 34 tunnel workmen were examined with the Pupillary Sleepiness Test (PST) at the start of day shift, after 8 hours, and at the end of the shift after 12 hours. The parameter of evaluation was the natural logarithm of the pupillary unrest index (lnPUI).
Results
The difference between the morning and afternoon (8 hour) measurements was significant (2-way Wilcoxon test, median difference 0.34, minimum –0.29, maximum 1.20, p<0.001). Classification according to standard values showed excessive sleepiness in 53% of the subjects. There was no significant difference between the afternoon (8 hour) and evening (12 hour) measurements. After 8 hours of work, >60% of the workmen showed extreme sleepiness. After 12 hours, including 2 hours for breaks throughout the day, sleepiness remained at this high level
Conclusions
A strenuous work setting causes excessive daytime sleepiness already after 8 hours. For longer shift hours, the sleepiness level remains high, which may be associated with a higher risk for accidents.