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Updated: May 14, 2026
08:36
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
Factors associated with sleep quality among operating engineers.
Seung Hee Choi1, Jeffrey E Terrell, Joanne M Pohl
1School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482, USA.
Journal of Community Health
|February 9, 2013
Summary
Poor sleep quality affects Operating Engineers due to factors like pain, depression, and nicotine dependence. Interventions targeting these issues could reduce accidents and improve worker health.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Blue collar workers experience high job stress, noise exposure, and risky behaviors linked to poor sleep.
- Operating Engineers, a specific blue-collar group, face risks from daytime fatigue, yet their sleep quality remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify personal and health behavior factors associated with sleep quality among Operating Engineers.
- To inform potential interventions for improving sleep and reducing occupational risks.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey design was employed.
- A convenience sample of 498 Operating Engineers in Michigan was recruited.
- Linear regression analyses were used to examine factors related to sleep quality.
Main Results:
- Younger age, female sex, higher pain levels, more medical comorbidities, and depressive symptoms were linked to poorer sleep quality.
- Nicotine dependence was identified as a significant behavioral factor associated with poor sleep.
- Sleep scores were comparable to population norms, but 34% expressed interest in sleep health services.
Conclusions:
- While some factors influencing sleep quality are immutable, interventions addressing pain, depression, and smoking cessation can improve sleep hygiene and quality.
- Improving sleep quality may lead to reduced absenteeism, fewer work-related accidents, and better overall health outcomes for Operating Engineers.
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