Our very own Michael Trufant, Aeroflow Sleep Therapy Manager, was honored to present at the VPPPA Safety+ National Symposium. He was invited to share his expertise on how fatigue is dangerous and most often caused by sleep apnea.
The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants Association (VPPPA) is comprised of dedicated health and safety professionals empowering occupational safety culture from over 50 different industries. They act as educational resources to strengthen safety culture and prevent workplace accidents, many of which are caused by fatigue.
Fatigue Is Dangerous
Many safety, health, and environmental leaders filled the auditorium to hear Michael speak on the importance of putting an end to workplace fatigue. As a result, they were able to take away information on how to make their industries around the world a safer place.
So, why exactly is fatigue dangerous?
An estimated 13% of all workplace injuries can be attributed to fatigue. The National Safety Council found in their Fatigue In The Workplace: Causes and Consequences of Employee Fatigue reported that 97% of workers have at least one fatigue risk factor, while 80% have more than one.
This is a serious issue as fatigue is detrimental to a person’s health and safety, both on and off the job as it causes the potential for injuries to increase.
Fatigue debilitates people, causing them to be irritable, have reduced energy, the inability to concentrate, lowered reaction times, and more. If someone is suffering from excessive fatigue they may not be able to adhere to standard safety protocols and their levels of productivity decrease.
On top of having long shifts, many people have long commutes to their jobs leading to increased traffic incidents because driving fatigued is the equivalent to driving drunk. Employees often report falling asleep at work and while driving.
Fatigue Is Caused By Sleep Apnea
The largest contributor to sleep deprivation is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which is caused when your airways become blocked during the night. The fatty tissues of your throat can collapse, cutting off your oxygen supply.
As a result, your body works to restore your breathing. Your chest may heave, your blood pressure may increase, and you might become incredibly restless, all of which is exhausting. This process prevents you from getting proper rest.
With over 20 million Americans currently suffering from sleep apnea, 90% remain undiagnosed. When left untreated OSA can contribute to other serious health issues including:
Obesity
Hypertension
Diabetes
Stroke
Depression
Increased traffic incidents
The prevalence of OSA is growing, especially in OTR truckers. The costs of vehicle motor accidents due to sleep apnea is $15.9 billion a year. The cost only goes up when you total in other workplace accidents caused by fatigue.
But Treating Sleep Apnea Is Easy
Treating sleep apnea saves lives and money. For every $1 spent on sleep apnea, $3.49 in collision claims is saved.
With a simple at-home sleep test your employees can test for sleep apnea from the comfort of their own beds. The test arrives in the mail, is used for one night, then returned to a qualified sleep physician.
If tested positive for sleep apnea, then you may qualify to receive a CPAP through insurance. CPAP machines are the most effective sleep apnea treatment method and along with saving lives, they help greatly improve quality of life.
To learn more about sleep apnea visit Aeroflow Healthcare and view Michael Trufant’s full presentation here.
