Issue:
Humans often experience negative physical, emotional, and cognitive consequences as a result of sleep loss. Abnormal sleep patterns arising from working rotating shifts also contribute to physical and cognitive dysfunction. When combined, the possibility of attentional lapses increases. Other literature reports that humans experiencing heat exposure exhibit cognitive decline. Thus, for underground miners, three possible causes of reduced ability to pay attention to tasks arise during working times. They may begin working having experienced poor sleep, or they may have altered circadian patterns over preceding days and they may then experience heat exposure during their shift.
Objectives:
The proposed research will evaluate each of these three possible sources of attentional deficit for miners engaged in potentially dangerous activities in hot environments. The research will determine if poor sleep quality and altered circadian patterns leave those working in a hot underground environment with reduced cognitive function (i.e., decision making ability, mental alertness, etc). Clearly, such a possibility is important to employers in the mining sector from an occupational health and safety context.
Anticipated Results:
The resulting field study data will inform occupational health and safety experts and others who have an interest in workplace safety of a potentially serious opportunity for workplace accidents.
Investigators:
Glenn Legault( Laurentian University)
