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Jonathan Dean
Professor Mary Mullins
University 200
17 August 2015
The Need for Sleep Regulations in the Modern Day Work Force
Paul is a night shift forklift operator. He is responsible for handling the transport and
lodging of pallet-sized products for a large warehouse. While he is operating his forklift one
night, something unexpected happens. Paul closes his eyes due to overwhelming exhaustion.
This constant feeling of exhaustion is the product of working a physically demanding job at night
while having to care for his children during the day when his wife is at work. While moving
relatively fast on his forklift, he accidently clips a pallet of merchandise resulting in the
disastrous collapse of an entire pallet of canned chicken noodle soup. Paul does not believe that
what happened was all that terrible, and cleans up the mess before continuing on with his shift.
Clearly, Paul has not fully registered the potential dangerous implications of such an incident. He
could just have easily knocked a pallet over onto a coworker, or even worse hit a coworker
directly with his forklift. Even though Paul might not realize it, sleep deprivation has caused him
to become a work hazard not only to himself, but his co-workers and workplace. Many people
might not believe a lack of sleep or interruptions in sleep could lead to such negative
consequences, but research and real events have proven otherwise. According to Dr. Mark J.
Kamstra, a university professor, “even relatively minor sleep imbalances have been shown to
cause errors in judgment, anxiety, impatience, less efficient processing of information, and loss
of attention” (Kamstra 1005). Paul is just one potential example of the damage that could happen
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because of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is much more prevalent these days than one
might believe. It is also a risk often disregarded in workplaces of various industries.
Sleep deprivation is a condition that everyone has experienced at least one point or
another. This condition falls under two names of sleep deprivation and sleep deficiency (National
Institute of Health). According to the National Institute of Health, an individual is experiencing
sleep deprivation or deficiency if: they have not gotten enough sleep; they sleep at the wrong
time of the day and are out of sync; they do not sleep well, are interrupted, or get different types
of sleep; and/or they are diagnosed with a sleep disorder that prevents them from getting enough
sleep or causes poor sleep (National Institute of Health). The loss of sleep is known to be
detrimental to a person’s physical and mental health particularly in their work environments.
According to Russell Foster, a circadian neuroscientist, in his Ted Talk, “ if you’re an average
sort of person, 36 percent of your life will be spent asleep, which means that if you live to 90,
then 32 years will have spent entirely asleep… we don’t give sleep a second thought. We throw
it away” (Foster). Many Americans, like Paul, view functioning on less sleep as some sort of
badge of honor in our increasingly fast-paced world, but it takes a toll on that person. Every
person is maintained by an ‘internal body clock’ that is responsible for either keeping a person
awake or communicating to them that it is time for bed (National Institute of Health). Employers
shoulder some of the responsibility with their high-pressure environments with elevated
expectations of their employees. The modern world is so accustomed to instantaneous results,
that anything else is unconsciously communicated as unacceptable. As a result, people
simultaneously brag and whine about the fact that they stayed up all night to complete a work
task. Several serious accidents in the workplace are often attributed to sleep deprivation, and
could result in the injury or even death of the worker or of those around them. Luckily in Paul’s
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case, it was something minor, but could have been so much worse. This is emphasized by Dr.
Kamstra’s article stating, “it is estimated that each year, sleep-related accidents cost United
States’ businesses approximately $56 billion in reparations leading to nearly 25,000 deaths and
2.5 million disabling injuries” (Kamstra 1005). Everyone is affected by sleep deprivation and
even more so in the era of the fast-paced Millennials. According to Dr. Gary Zammit, the
director of the Sleep Disorders Institute at Columbia University, “there has been a 20 percent
decline in total average sleep time since the turn of the century, without any biologic change in
the body’s need for sleep” (Meisler 1206). What this statement implies is that people are getting
less and less sleep, but our bodies still require just as much sleep as it originally did at the turn of
the century. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that, “more than one-quarter of the
U.S. population report occasionally not getting enough sleep, while nearly 10% experience
chronic insomnia” (CDC). A lack of sleep truly can impact a person in various ways
unbeknownst to them. It is obvious that people are uneducated regarding the dangers of sleep
deprivation, for most would simply shrug off their insufficient sleep thinking that it is not that
important of an issue or that they do not have the option of improving their sleep due to work
pressures.
We need to understand the facts how harmful lack of sleep really is in order to understand
why people need sleep regulations in certain industries, if not all. In a related study titled, “Sleep
Deprivation: Impact on Cognitive Performance” that was carried out at the University of Turku
in Finland, Professor Paula Alhola finds that, “there are many unanswered questions regarding
both the functions of sleep and the effects of sleep loss. Sleep is considered to be important to
body restitution, like energy conservation, thermoregulation and tissue recovery” (Alhola 554).
Professor Alhola continues on to say, “people who are exposed to sleep loss usually experience a
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decline in cognitive performance and changes in mood” (Alhola 554). This is one of the many
symptoms a person experiences as a result of sleep deprivation. Other symptoms include:
impaired judgment, lack of manual dexterity, lack of alertness, increased injuries, lower
compliance, poor decision making, and a stronger likelihood to get sick. One research study
found that working on a lack of sleep is the equivalent to working while intoxicated from alcohol
(Williamson and Feyer 649). The side effects of sleep deprivation mentioned in these studies are
all characteristic of cognitive performance.
Overall, people are inherently aware of the general side effects of sleep deprivation. The
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reported, “ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to an
increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, risk of obesity and
stroke” (Heart). In addition to these threats, numerous researchers believe that there are other
potential impacts of sleep deprivation and interruption that have yet to be researched. The fact of
the matter is that there are more effects of sleep deprivation, and the basic side effects are only
the tip of the iceberg. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute also tells us according to, “a
health survey for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7 to 19 percent of adults
in the United States reported not getting enough rest or sleep every day”. I am not surprised that
there are so many accidents attributed to sleep deprivation due to this reported statistic. Due to
the aforementioned weakening of cognitive and psychological performance as well as the threat
to physical wellbeing, employers need to use their influence to implement sleep regulations
and/or at least educate their employees about what it means to be sleep deprived and the potential
consequences.
Many companies these days have implemented safety measures addressing various types
of work hazards in order protect their employees, customers, firm assets, and merchandise. These
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measures include anything from training individuals to properly operate a forklift to knowing
what to do in case a fire happens. In the past decade, ergonomics has become a growing concern
and goal for companies. Often known as “work science”, the aim of ergonomics is to
accommodate and adapt a work environment to be physically comfortable and less risky to
employees (Doggette 22). Examples of items that fall under the umbrella of ergonomics is
providing print materials on how to properly lift a tray in a restaurant or providing ergonomicapproved chair that would reduce the likelihood of back injury. Recently, employers have taken
more efforts to encourage their employees to practice healthy habits such as eating better or how
to properly lift items in the workplace. In the back of the house of any hotel, there are bulletin
boards filled with educational materials advising their staff on healthy habits. There are still
some health-related habits that are not properly regulated, one of which is sleep. Truck drivers
are potentially one of the few groups of workers who operate under mandated sleep regulations.
Employers involved in the trucking industry have started to respond to the threat of sleep
deprivation by regulating their truck driver's hours of operation in order to ensure they are rested
enough to remain alert on the road, and as a result accidents involving sleep deprivation have
been reduced. Before these regulations, Wininger Law reported, “each year, over 110,000 people
are injured and more than 5,000 are killed in the United States in auto accidents involving
commercial trucks” (Wininger Law). In the 1940’s, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)
established the Hours of Service (HOS) for truck drivers to help reduce the risk of accidents. The
HOS is now being issued and regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) (Goel 50). According to changes in the HOS regulation in 2013 under the FMCSA,
“the <truck drivers> are required to rest for a minimum of 10 hours before they are allowed to
operate any company-owned vehicle for 14 hours” (Goel 50).
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As previously stated, truck drivers’ working hours are heavily regulated because of what
is required of them in their job duties. Truck drivers have to stay alert on the road every minute
they are on the clock. In an article, the American Sleep Society states, “on the other hand, some
trucking companies, usually the larger ones with more resources, are proactive with screening,
testing, and treatment, some with highly organized programs, which result in lower healthcare
costs, reduced liability, and happier, more productive employees” (Michaelson). This quote
supports the notion that sleep regulations not only benefit the welfare of the employee, but the
company performance as well. Since the original Hours of Service (HOS), the regulations have
changed somewhat adapting to the changing of times and expert knowledge. Truck drivers are
required to take eight hours of rest followed by two hours allotted for off-duty periods, for a total
of ten hours off-duty. Then, truck drivers can drive for sixteen hours before they are required to
take another ten-hour break. These regulations help prevent accidents in the trucking industry.
Nothing is perfect though because accidents still do happen out on the road, but are generally
attributed to other causes. Therefore, it is clearly not just truck drivers that are negatively
impacted by sleep deprivation. Sleep regulations are present sporadically throughout business,
but they are few and scarce. I contend that it is possible to prevent or minimize accidents
involving sleep deprivation and improve employees’ quality of life in numerous ways similar to
how truck drivers’ hours of operation have been regulated which helps them to stay alert on the
road. Other companies such as ones that involve heavy machinery should implement sleep
regulations that would help prevent such accidents, and also provide education on the subject
matter to develop their employees’ overall awareness of sleep deprivation and its causes and
effects.
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Given the positive changes for truck drivers due to sleep regulations, other employers
should not only implement sleep regulations for their employees, but also educate them on the
benefits of a good night’s rest. It could help people focus and accomplish more or even prevent
other types of on-the-job accidents in areas such as construction sites, warehouses, department
stores, etc. The National Sleep Foundation states, “it <sleep deprivation> can increase stress, the
chance of accidents on and off the job and lead to trouble in concentration and poor job
performance” (Hirshkowitz). There are safety and health regulations mandated by the
government and employers, such as the expectations for how to stack pallets in the steel in a
warehouse, what to do in case of a fire, and so on. Why are some of these regulations only
implemented in certain industries, such as truck driving? The Society for Human Resource
Management tells us, “there will likely also be efforts to regulate sleep in other industries in
order to prevent the accidents and bad judgment that come with a lack of rest” (Smith). People
may start to realize that the negative effects do outweigh the positive effects of staying up in
order to complete more hours of work. WebMD discussed other accident-related facts in various
industries stating that, “sleep deprivation was a factor in some of the biggest disasters in recent
history: the 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill, the
1986 nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl, and others” (Feature).
These aforementioned sleep and deprivation facts are fairly intuitive. Even though
information regarding sleep deprivation is fairly well documented and easily accessible,
accidents still tend to occur. Serious accidents in the workplace are often attributed to sleep
deprivation, and could result in the injury or even death of the worker or of those around them.
These accidents do not only occur with truck drivers though. There are significant risks as a
result of heavy machinery operators being unaware of the potential risks they are subjecting
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themselves and others to. For example, a sleep deprived worker is far more likely to misjudge the
stability of a stack of pallets, the speed of a forklift, where the forks on the forklift are going, and
the traction of a work surface. Their employers should implement similar preventive measures to
ensure not only the health of their employees, but also the safety of the work environment. The
reduction of incidents involving truck drivers as a result of the sleep regulations supports this
belief.
Workers may not like their sleeping habits regulated by their employers and the
government. Companies having too much control over the habits of their employees could cause
separate issues, such as hierarchical strife, decreased firm performance, or a decline in employee
job satisfaction. For example, in an article from the Wall Street Journal in 2013, truck drivers
complained about the sleep mandates saying that the limited hours hurt the smaller businesses
that are competing with the larger companies (Mitchell). Additionally, one driver said that they
do not need “these people” telling him how to stay alive (Mitchell). At the end of the day, we are
the masters of our own lives, but with employers promoting healthier sleep habits at least
employees are not feeling pressured at work to compromise their overall well-being. Employees
may experience overhead pressure at their jobs to execute expected tasks. A worker may have
too much to handle at their job and is forced to bring their work home. In a social psychological
study, the researchers found that “the workplace can be a primary source of experiences
responsible for poor sleep” (Loft and Cameron 290). In the same research article, the authors
declare, “work-related demands and conflicts can motivate decisions to prioritize work goals
over sleep-related goals” (Loft and Cameron 290). As the former prime minister of England,
Margaret Thatcher claimed that, “sleep is for wimps” (Foster). Thomas Edison jumped on this
anti-sleep bandwagon declaring, “sleep is a criminal waste of time and a heritage from our cave
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days” (Foster). A social psychology professor, Dr. Martin Hagger, confirms this notion in a
health study stating that sleep regulation is difficult to maintain when simultaneously coping
with the emotional and cognitive demands of work (Hagger 59). This pressure overpowers their
desire and ability to sleep. It is quite possible that the workers might even see the benefit of what
getting a healthy amount of sleep each night does for them over a period of time should
employers promote healthy sleeping and reduce career-related pressures.
There is a possibility that enforcing sleep regulations is a little too extreme to enforce in
certain cases. Maybe businesses and their workers would not even consider the option of putting
sleep regulations in place because the effect on businesses and workers would be viewed as
potentially inappropriate, unnecessary, or detrimental. Large, company-wide change is always
difficult to implement. In order to ease into addressing sleep deprivation issues in the workplace,
I suggest employers first assess the level of risk in their workplace. They should also determine
the level of judgment, response rate, and psychological balance is needed to maintain the work
environment and well-being of their employees. Following this assessment, they will be aware of
essentially the risk score of their company and thus the level of need for mandated sleep
regulations. Next, regardless of whether or not the company decides to implement sleep
regulations, they need to provide information about sleep deprivation, and spread the word on the
potential negative effects it has on the human body and mind. As a result, workers may respond
to this raising level of awareness by endeavoring to improve not only their health, but also
indirectly enhance the safety and well-being of their workplace, coworkers, and customers. The
information regarding sleep deprivation is also an issue that needs to be brought into the homes
of every employee, and not serve as just another piece of paper at work. The additional stress
attributed to work could easily be addressed by having their employers encourage healthy
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sleeping habits and remove the unspoken expectation that a “good” employee works around the
clock regardless of their personal needs. With proper guidance and accessible educational
materials, people like Paul can find support and a means to achieve proper sleep within their
busy schedules, regardless of whether or not the company puts official regulations in place.
No matter what, with or without sleep, America will thrive and the work will certainly
get done. The human body is an amazing machine that will persevere through astonishing
dangers to accomplish the great feats of life. In an ideal world, a person would get a normal night
of eight hours of sleep. This is not an ideal world, and there are always a lot of external factors
that come into play when talking about our everyday lives. The combined stress of our everyday
private lives and work lives are a recipe for disaster. It may be just a one -time incident or a
frequent occurrence, but the fact is sleep deprivation might always be a threat in some way,
shape, or form if we do not try to manage it. More and more people believe sleep deprivation is
perfectly acceptable when necessary in our modern society. People think getting more work
accomplished is a good thing no matter what the cost is to them. The fact is sleep deprivation
does have a negative effect on people’s physical and mental health in today’s workforce. In
short, if companies implemented sleep regulations on their workers, they could prevent many
accidents that could occur in the workplace and also positively impact their worker’s quality of
life and overall firm performance. The regulation of sleep may lead to not only safer workplaces
across America, but possibly enhance the overall work environment rather than allowing the
negative effects of exhaustion to permeate through. Employers would also do well to provide
education for the employees’ overall awareness regarding the negative impacts of sleep
deprivation. Additionally, the health issues and risks that are associated with sleep deprivation
could be properly addressed because of the fact that workers are required to get sleep and are
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aware of the potential consequences. This could lead to longer, healthier lives for all involved.
Employers and employees must fight back against the speed of the era, and acknowledge that as
human beings, it is important to properly maintain us mentally and physically. In Dr. Foster’s
Ted Talk, he quoted two historical figures that had the foresight to understand the significance of
sleep. The first is Thomas Dekker who, “sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies
together”. The second is Jim Butcher, a fantasy author, who keeps his wisdom succinct writing,
“sleep is god. Go worship” (Foster).
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