Understanding the consequences of alcohol on sleep
Alcohol will make you sleepy, but you won’t sleep well for about an hour after your first alcoholic drink, your brain is stimulated to release dopamine, the so-called “happy hormone”. When you consume more alcohol though, it switches from being a stimulant to a sedative and slows down your central nervous...Read more
Extended Hours
In order to maintain a high level of alertness and performance, we are best suited to being awake for no more than about 16 hours following 8 hours of good quality sleep, although these values can differ slightly among individuals. However, you cannot ‘train’ yourself to work for longer or...Read more
Managing Driver Sleepiness
Understanding the risks: Sleepiness contributes to approximately 1 in 5 fatal and serious road accidents. When we are feeling sleepy, for example after a night shift, driving is one of the most dangerous things we can do. Sleepiness reduces alertness, slows reaction times, and increases the likelihood of being involved...Read more
Sleep, Wellbeing and the Pandemic
One lesson the pandemic has taught us all is the interrelationship between our wellbeing and how well we are sleeping. For some the changes brought about by the pandemic have created positives for wellbeing. For example, those lucky enough to still be working, are probably relieved and grateful to still...Read more
Dying for a break? Human factors and fatigue management in the MRO sector
The RAeS Human Factors Group in Engineering (HFG:E) project team: COLLEEN BUTLER, HSE’s Science Division; ANNA VEREKER, Civil Aviation Authority; KAREN ROBERTSON, QinetiQ and SARAH BOOTH, Clockwork Research, consider the risks and management of fatigue for aircraft engineers. Published RAeS AEROSPACE MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2020 Discussion of fatigue in aviation incidents...Read more
Measuring and managing fatigue risk in the ‘new normal’
Adapting to the new normal has placed extra demands on fatigue risk management (FRM) to ensure that flight operations remain safe. FRM must now consider both the potential risk associated with the new operating environment and rosters, and the myriad of consequences that Covid-19 has for crew sleep health and...Read more
Expert advice on adapting body clocks as daylight saving ends on 25th October
Clockwork Research, the leading fatigue risk management consultancy and part of global aviation services group Air Partner, is offering timely advice and guidance on how individuals can adapt their body clocks to lifestyles and work schedules, particularly relevant to shift workers and those who find it difficult to adjust when...Read more
What is Social Jetlag?
This holiday period may see fewer of us taking to the skies and therefore not experiencing the jetlag that comes with long-haul travel. However, there is another type of jetlag, social jetlag, which you can experience even if holidaying closer to home. What is social jetlag? Social jetlag1 occurs...Read more
How to promote creativity and well-being through dreams
Are there different types of dreams? During a typical night’s sleep, everyone dreams but while some people easily and often remember their dreams, other people can’t recall their dreams. Dream content is often heavily influenced by our personal experiences, but researchers have found that certain dream themes are very common...Read more
Helping the C-suite to manage fatigue in challenging times
Covid-19 has had a dramatic impact on businesses globally, with top C-suite executives having to make decisions that they might have never thought to have considered. Even after the current restrictions are lifted, businesses will have to navigate through challenging and uncertain times, all of which will continue to impact...Read more