What can I do as an employee?

You don’t have to wait for a workplace program to get checked out for sleep disorders. If you suspect that you might have a sleep disorder, visit your doctor.

Not only is this important for your own health and safety, but also for the health and safety of those around you. For instance, workplace accidents or drowsy driving crashes on the commute to and from work may not only affect you but also your colleagues and the public at large. This ‘second-hand sleepiness’ can be deadly and it is your responsibility to ensure that you come to work fit-for-duty and do not present a hazard to those around you. You will also feel better, have more energy and get more done if your sleep disorders are treated.

More than 80 clinical sleep disorders have been identified and so acquiring an expert’s help in diagnoses is highly recommended. The most common disorders identified in occupational populations are sleep apnoea, insomnia, shiftwork disorder and restless legs syndrome. Further details on these common symptoms are outlined in factsheets provided by the Sleep Health Foundation:

• Sleep Apnoea
• Insomnia
• Shiftwork Disorder
• Restless Legs Syndrome

You can find an array of useful fact sheets on the Sleep Health Foundation website.