Sleepy shift workers 'are putting their lives at risk'

An Australian study has revealed that sleep-deprived shift workers are more likely to be involved in road accidents, the Herald Sun has reported.

It is found that while less than 15 per cent of Australians are regular shift workers, they make up half of the road traffic accident patients treated at one Melbourne hospital.

Associate Professor Matthew Naughton from the sleep laboratory at Alfred Hospital said employers should look after their shift workers welfare by implementing limited weekly rosters, 10-hour breaks between shifts and taxis home from work.

Commenting on the results, Professor Naughton said: "We estimate that sleepiness contributes to about a third of single-vehicle fatal motor vehicle collisions."

He added that getting behind the wheel after long periods without going to bed was the same as driving drunk.

Meanwhile, another recent study has found that although people in their 80s and 90s spend less time sleeping, they are not as likely as their younger counterparts to feel sleepy the next day.

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