Sleep and Circadian Disruption Associated with RTC Ops

In 2000, the Monthly Labor Review reported 1997 data indicating that more than 25 million people in the United States worked variable hours, which accounted for about 28% of the U.S. workforce at the time (6). Using historical definitions, 

The requirements for RTC Ops are important because they affect key physiological factors that have significant outcomes on alertness, safety, and performance. In this section, the physiological disruption associated with modem RTC Ops will be examined, common work-related practices described and how they create this physiological disruption, and finally, work activities in the real world are confronted by a multitude of challenges that can further exacerbate this physiological disruption. Some examples of these challenges also are discussed. 

The 24/7 requirements of RTC Ops can affect both sleep and circadian rhythms. The scientific literature suggests that at least four core physiological factors can be affected by, or play a role in, work-related alertness, safety, and performance 

Sleep can be disrupted in two ways acutely or through a cumulative sleep debt. Acute sleep loss will typically refer to the total amount of sleep an individual obtains in the 24-hr period prior to work. A work-related cumulative sleep debt can be calculated by adding the sleep loss acquired over days. This calculation should begin after an identified recovery period when an individual would have an opportunity to zero out any existing sleep debt. Sleep is a core physiological factor that affects waking alertness, safety, and performance and, as will be apparent, RTC Ops can affect sleep acutely and over time through a cumulative sleep debt. 

Another circadian disruption not typically defined as associated with work is jet lag. Modem business activities often include transmeridian travel and the associated time zone changes can create both circadian and sleep disruptions. When considering the general occupational implications of sleep loss, travel is not usually acknowledged or appreciated for its effect on waking alertness, safety, and performance. 

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