Wisconsin employers are generally required to take reasonable steps to keep you safe while on the job. However, their best efforts may be for naught if you don’t get enough sleep at night. When you’re tired, it can be harder to make decisions or fully contemplate the risks that you might be taking. Ultimately, it can increase your risk of getting hurt while at work.
Strive to get at least seven hours of sleep each night
Ideally, you will sleep for seven consecutive hours in an environment that is free of distractions. If you have a phone, computer or television in your room, be sure to turn it off as the light these items emit can trick your brain into thinking it needs to stay awake. In the event that you work overnight, try to get several hours of rest at the same time each day. It may be possible to keep light to a minimum by wearing a mask or using blinds to darken your sleeping quarters.
What happens when you don’t get enough sleep?
When you don’t get enough quality rest, your brain doesn’t have the ability to repair itself. This means that you’ll be stressed, jittery and generally unable to function at your best after you wake up, and you may be at a higher risk of being involved in a workplace accident that results in a serious injury. Furthermore, your brain stores important information that you learn during the day while you’re asleep. Therefore, a lack of rest may make it harder to remember how to run a machine, how to take down a customer’s order or other important tasks.
If you’re hurt at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits might make it possible to pay medical bills incurred after an accident or recover a portion of any wages lost while recovering from your injuries.
