The use of circadian-informed lighting has been found to significantly improve the quality of sleep and work performance for night shift workers, according to a major new trial conducted by Flinders University. This trial, one of the first tightly controlled in-laboratory studies of its kind, evaluated the effects of circadian lighting on markers of body-clock timing, work-shift cognitive performance, and sleep after transitioning to night shift work.
The results of the trial have been published in the journal SLEEP, with one study focusing on the effects of circadian-informed lighting on vigilance, sleep, and subjective sleepiness during simulated night shift work. Dr. Hannah Scott, a sleep researcher at Flinders University, explained that circadian rhythms control our body’s internal clocks, including our sleep-wake cycle. Shift work disrupts these rhythms, and well-timed light exposure can help retime the body clock and improve alertness and performance.
In Australia, around 15%–16% of workers are shift workers, with rotating shifts being the most common type. The findings of the trial are particularly relevant for shift workers in enclosed environments such as submarines, where lighting is typically dim. Dr. Scott highlighted the challenges posed by night shifts, including disrupted sleep-wake schedules, which can lead to impaired performance and health issues.
The study involved 19 adult participants who were exposed to two different lighting scenarios over eight days in a simulated night work environment. The circadian-informed lighting, designed to help the body clock adjust to night work, resulted in faster body-clock adjustments and improved job performance and sleep compared to traditional lighting conditions.
Lead author Alisha Guyett emphasized the benefits of circadian-informed lighting on sleep and alertness, noting that strategic lighting interventions can enhance the performance, safety, and well-being of night shift workers. The study found that participants exposed to circadian-informed lighting achieved almost an hour more sleep and made fewer mistakes on cognitive tasks compared to those under standard lighting conditions.
Professor Peter Catcheside, a researcher at Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, highlighted the importance of circadian-friendly lighting in optimizing workspaces for enhanced performance and well-being. The study’s implications extend to various workplace environments where lighting conditions can affect shift workers’ ability to adjust their body-clocks to their work schedules.
Overall, the trial’s findings suggest that circadian-informed lighting interventions can play a crucial role in improving the health, safety, and performance of night shift workers. This research provides valuable insights for industries where shift work is common, offering potential solutions to mitigate the challenges associated with working irregular hours.
