Who is working at work?

Recently in Chicago, the subway blue line train derailed off the track and up two flights of stairs at the O’Hare airport stop. The news accountings related that the driver of the train, a new employee of less than three months had recently worked a double shift and had accumulated other double shifts earlier that week. The incident is under investigation and it certainly called our attention to the devastation of sleep deprivation effects at the workplace. The National Transportation and Safety board recommends screening programs to identify drivers at high risk of sleep disturbances (and possibly including sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea) [1]. Some medical centers offer public announcements about sleep disturbances, education about sleep hygiene practices and treatments. To these efforts, Public Awareness is accentuated with media information online and through paper and media outlets about the effects of poor sleep on daytime functioning. While there are no Office of Health and Safety Association (OHSA) standards related to sleepiness at work, numerous public service announcements have been issued in terms of sleep related and fatigue issues and work safety. Finally, mandates such as the Residency sleep/work requirements have made strong impact on the reduction of errors and human costs related to poor/deprived sleep