According to the National Safety Council (NSC) the cost of workers going to work each year is approaching $150 billion annually. The cost in dollars is important for employers, but for workers the true cost is that working under the stress of being fatigued can cause you to make mistakes and not be safe while at work. A fatigued worker is one that is more likely to get injured and file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
Many people claim they do not get enough sleep and some even use that as a kind of “badge of honor” but truthfully not getting enough sleep is one of the worst ways to reduce your productivity at work and increase your chances of injury. The NSC provides some startling statistics on fatigue in the workplace;
-
62% of night shift workers experience sleep loss
-
The cost of a fatigued worker can range from $1200 to $3100 annually
-
The effect of losing 2 hours of sleep is the same as having 3 beers
-
If you are awake for more than 20 hours it can have the same impact as being legally drunk
Not getting enough sleep may not be your fault, it may be the requirements of the job as many jobs require long shifts and those with irregular shifts may find it difficult to get into a healthy sleep pattern and therefore be coming up short on the amount of needed sleep to perform the duties of the job safely and effectively. When employees are tired they are more likely to let safety performance slip and that is when devastating accidents can happen.
You can do your part by doing your best to get on a routine of sleep and not arriving to work when you are fatigued. If you are tired regularly, look at your patterns and see what you can chance to ensure that you are getting enough sleep each night and arriving at work ready to perform the duties of your job to the best of your ability. Being fatigued can lead to serious injury or worse and may constitute a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
When you’re at work if you experience an injury due to work-related fatigue you may be able to file a claim. One of our board certified attorneys can review your case and help you protect your long-term interests.
