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Workplace Sleep Health Promotion

The quality of our sleep and the prevalence of sleep related disorders in the community have wide ranging health, social and economic implications. A recently released (June, 2005) Access Economics report into the social and economic burden of sleeping disorders suggest a cost to Australia of approximately $10 billion per year. Whilst 63% of this figure was related to direct medical costs, the remainder was attributed to productivity losses, the costs of accidents in the workplace and in vehicles and the impact of these disorders on quality of life.

Sleep apnea (cessation of breathing during sleep) and other sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD) are remarkably common. Depending on the severity level, sleep apnea affects from between 4% to 25% of adult males and 2-10% of females. This is comparable with the prevalence of diabetes (1%-2%), human immunodeficiency virus infection (seroprevalence, <1%), asthma (4%) and the lifetime risk of colon cancer (5%). The prevalence of sleep related breathing disorders in particular occupational groups, such as commercial transport drivers, has been found to be much higher (approximately 50%). Risk factors include snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, obesity, hypertension and an increased tendency for motor vehicle or work related accidents.

Recent research by the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research assessed the sleeping patterns of over 3,500 individuals randomly selected from the NSW electoral roll and found that 31.2% of these individuals reported general sleep difficulties. The research found that 71.7% of those reporting sleep difficulties had experienced these symptoms for greater than 12 months and only 30.1% of these individuals went to a doctor to discuss the problem.

The occupational health and safety setting therefore provides an ideal environment to raise awareness of the advances in sleep medicine and fatigue management with direct and potentially measurable impacts on worker safety, productivity and general quality of life.