Long Hours Increasing

Before COVID working longer hours was on the rise. COVID sent many of us home and our employers allowed us to work from there. Longer work hours rose some more. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says about 9% of us work at least 55 hours a week.

That’s a lot of hours!

OSHA says — what most of us already know — longer hours can lead to fatigue and stress both physically and mentally.

FATIGUE CAN CAUSE:

Sleepiness Irritability Poor decision making Concentration issues Memory issues Lack of motivation

Fatigue — says OSHA — also can lead to physical ailments like heart disease and musculoskeletal disorders. Depression and poor diet habits can follow. If you’re fatigued, you’re also more prone to illness or injury.

The World Health Organization (WHO) did a study and found between 2000 and 2016, there was a 29% jump in deaths from stroke and heart disease. WHO tied it to longer working hours. The organization says if you work 55 hours or more, you have a 35% higher possibility of a stroke and a 17% higher chance of dying from heart disease than someone working a normal 8am to 5pm shift and 40-hour week.

Those working longer hours tend to be 2.3 times more likely to have a car crash, and they’re 5.9 times more likely to have a near miss.

Matt Zender is Senior Vice President and Workers’ Compensation Product Manager for AmTrust Financial Services. He has some good suggestions if you’re one of those working 55 hours or more a week.

HELP YOURSELF BY:

1. Try to get 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night 2. Get a daily sleep schedule where you go to sleep and wake up at the same time 3. Have a comfortable, quiet sleep environment, something cool and dark 4. Get more exercise

5. Eat well

Zender also says if you’re one of those working longer and longer hours, you need to take some action to protect yourself.

OSHA SUGGESTS THAT EMPLOYERS:

1. Allow more frequent breaks 2. Address staffing issues that require longer hours

3. Improve lighting to help employees stay alert

4. Adjust room temperatures 5. Train employees on the hazards found when working too many hours

Source: PropertyCasualty360.com

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