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Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
Changing to daylight saving time cuts into sleep and increases workplace injuries
Christopher M Barnes1, David T Wagner
1Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University, N400 North Business Complex, East Lansing, MI 48824-1122, USA. christopher.montgomery.barnes@gmail.com
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|August 26, 2009
Summary
Daylight Saving Time changes, specifically losing an hour, are linked to more workplace injuries and reduced sleep. Gaining an hour during Standard Time shows no significant impact on sleep or injuries.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Science
- Chronobiology
Background:
- Daylight Saving Time (DST) transitions disrupt circadian rhythms.
- The impact of DST on workplace safety is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between DST transitions and workplace injuries.
- To examine the effect of DST on sleep duration and its potential role in injury occurrence.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a national mining injury database (1983-2006) from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- Examination of a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) time-use database (2003-2006).
- Comparison of injury rates and sleep duration on Mondays following DST shifts versus other days.
Main Results:
- Mondays after the DST shift (losing 1 hour) showed significantly higher rates and severity of workplace injuries.
- Workers slept approximately 40 minutes less on Mondays following the DST shift.
- No significant changes in sleep, injury quantity, or severity were observed following the Standard Time shift (gaining 1 hour).
Conclusions:
- The loss of sleep associated with the transition to Daylight Saving Time is linked to an increase in workplace injuries.
- Reduced sleep duration appears to be a mediating factor in the relationship between DST and workplace injuries.
- Standard Time transitions do not appear to have a similar negative impact on sleep or workplace safety.
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