Occupational and Driving Challenges Within Sleep Medicine

Shift work is a necessity for a society that requires 24/7 services. However, working around the clock can cause a misalignment with our sleep-wake cycle, resulting in sleepiness, impaired cognition and poor health. Due to the prevalence of shift work within safety-critical contexts, there is a need to further understand the causes and consequences of non-typical work on sleep, wellbeing, health and safety, as well as ways to effectively reduce this risk. Furthermore, disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea, which is the most prevalent medical cause of sleepiness, compound the adverse health and safety consequences of shift work. This article provides an overview of some of the key occupational and sleep health challenges related to shift work: accurate measurement of sleepiness, mitigation, long-term sustainability and work/life balance. We conclude by proposing four directions for future work in this area to consider, with the overall aim of improving the sleep, health and wellbeing of the shift-working population.