Sleep deprivation is sweeping the American workforce as more than 41 million American workers are now complaining about a lack of sleep. That number was revealed this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which surveyed 15,000 active workers to determine their sleep levels.

Putting that number into perspective, nearly 30% of the American workforce isn’t getting enough sleep.

According to the CDC:

“Getting less than seven to nine hours a night can pose a harmful—even fatal—threat to your health and the health of those around you.”

What might be most troubling is the danger aspect of sleep deprivation, for example 20% of all car accidents are associated with sleepy drivers. When you drive in busy traffic to and from long hours on the job you run the risk of injury.

The study also found that 4,500 workers were killed by occupational injuries in 2010, while all of those accidents can not be blamed on sleep deprivations it is probably safe to assume that at least some of them were nudged along by sleep deprivation.

The CDC also warns that workplace related sleep deprivation is specifically worse for certain types of workers, for example 44% of night-shift employees are sleep-deprived with transportation and warehouse workers receiving the brunt of the deprivation. Also hit hard are health care and social assistance workers who routinely work long-hours, in some cases functioning under regular double and even triple shifts.

A doctor speaking with WebMD explains that if it takes you more than 10 minutes to fall asleep you are likely sleep deprived.

Do you feel sleep deprived because of work? Leave us a comment with your occupation and stories of sleep deprivation on the job.

41 Million Sleep Deprived Workers In The United States, Study Finds is a post from: The Inquisitr