Asleep at the X-Ray: Sleep and Airport Screeners
I think about what sleep deprivation can mean in all sorts of situations. Imagine what could happen under the knife when a sleepy surgeon is on call. Or a sleepy truck-driver pulling a load of explosive material on a crowded highway. Just last week a new study pointed to yet another potential hazard for the general public: sleepy baggage screeners at airports.
A lot has changed since 9/11 in how we travel, from what we're allowed to pack and carry on an airplane to how rigorous the screening is at security checkpoints. Now a Boston researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital has showed that sleep-deprived screeners are more likely to complete searches more quickly (and with less diligence), as well as make more mistakes.
I know from my own travels that there can be enormous inconsistencies in the rigor of screening just based on who is on the job at the time. It's human nature to do a job either more or less efficiently based on one's levels of energy. But when certain jobs relate directly to the health and safety of the public, the stakes get higher.
My hope is that studies like this help fuel an awareness of the potential effects sleep deprivation can have in critical areas of public safety. Airport employees who need to stay vigilant would do well to "screen" their exhaustion throughout the day and take naps when necessary.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: sleep, sleep deprivation, airport screeners, safety, health and wellness
A lot has changed since 9/11 in how we travel, from what we're allowed to pack and carry on an airplane to how rigorous the screening is at security checkpoints. Now a Boston researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital has showed that sleep-deprived screeners are more likely to complete searches more quickly (and with less diligence), as well as make more mistakes.
I know from my own travels that there can be enormous inconsistencies in the rigor of screening just based on who is on the job at the time. It's human nature to do a job either more or less efficiently based on one's levels of energy. But when certain jobs relate directly to the health and safety of the public, the stakes get higher.
My hope is that studies like this help fuel an awareness of the potential effects sleep deprivation can have in critical areas of public safety. Airport employees who need to stay vigilant would do well to "screen" their exhaustion throughout the day and take naps when necessary.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: sleep, sleep deprivation, airport screeners, safety, health and wellness
1 Comments:
Excellent article. All the technological advances are of no avail if the screeners aren't well awake.They should be checked when they report to work otherwise what's the use of X-ray machines.
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