The Costs Sleep Loss, Sleepiness, and Safety

RTC Ops demands disrupt sleep and circadian physiology with a variety of consequences. In this section, examples demonstrate how these consequences translate specifically into sleep loss, increased sleepiness, and decreased safety across a variety of representative work settings. 

One clear outcome of the operational factors discussed thus far is that individuals lose sleep and can build a cumulative sleep debt. Examples of sleep loss experienced in transportation, health care, and public safety demonstrate how these actual operational demands can result in physiological disruption. 

Sleep Loss in Transportation Operations (See Also Chap. 15) 

RTC Ops clearly describe the requirements of the global transportation system. In one large study of commercial truck drivers, individuals obtained varying 

Across these different flight environments and schedules, overall, 85% of pilots accumulated a sleep debt during their trips that ranged from only a few hours on some short-haul schedules to the equivalent of several days on long-haul trips. 

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