Staying awake for long periods comparable to drunkenness

(Ahjo 16.01.2004 - Mika Peltonen/UP) Continuous sleep deficit causes a serious safety risk at the workplace, says sleep researcher and neurologist Markku Partinen. "A tired employee more readily takes risks than a well rested employee, as tiredness weakens attentiveness and observation." For example, a tired worker will not necessarily notice that an industrial control room meter is over the red line and the process is running foul.

"In the long run a tired employee is no good to the employer, either. Even where loss of life and serious catastrophes are avoided, the financial losses may be really serious." According to Partinen, a 16-hour period without sleep already poses a significant risk, and is comparable to a blood alcohol content of 0.5 per mille. Staying awake for 24 hours is comparable to a blood alcohol content of 1.0 per mille, and 36 hours without sleep corresponds to drunkenness of 1.5 per mille.

Read more about the risks caused by sleep deficit on Trade Union News from Finland.