Scientists: Controllers need naps on the job

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOAN LOWY

WASHINGTON (AP) - The best solution to the problem of sleepy air traffic controllers is more sleeping on the job, scientists say.

But that would be a radical change for the Federal Aviation Administration. Current regulations forbid sleeping at work, even during breaks. Controllers who are caught can be suspended or fired.

Experts say that kind of thinking is outdated.

"There should be sanctioned on-shift napping. That's the way to handle night shift work," said Gregory Belenky, a sleep expert at Washington State University in Spokane. There are plenty of other scientists in the U.S. and around the world who agree with him. Sleep studies show that nighttime workers who are allowed "recuperative breaks" are more alert when they return to their tasks.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110415/D9MJUSOO0.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. I ALWAYS sleep on the job.

I feel a nap coming on right now.

Seriously, napping is heaven. It's totally necessary in stressful conditions.

[pnwmom]

2. Makes perfect sense to me. Catnaps can be restorative. n/t

[Ed Suspicious]

3. When I work at home one of the best parts of my day

is my 20 minute afternoon nap. I wake up so refreshed. It's always really bummed me out how this is discouraged at work when I KNOW how much more productive I can be after my nap.

[Hissyspit]

4. No. Workers are the problem. They always are. Fire them. Don't let them strike.

Fire them if they strike.

It's not the system design. It's not the administrators. It's ALWAYS the workers! They are lazy, lazy, lazy!

:sarcasm: <---- Obviously

[No Elephants]

10. Pssst. Don't believe every post at DU.

[Demeter]

5. Do I see the camel-nose of REALITY Trying to Creep Under the Tent of Management?

Heaven forfend! They can't handle reality in the corner offices. It interrrupts their afternoon nookie and nap.

[PATRICK]

6. Sometimes it takes a scientist...

So where is the Heritage Foundation sci-goon to counteract the science of simple logic? Wait, that would only be if there was hope of popular opinion effecting 19th Century business practices.

[SkyDaddy7]

7. America listening to its scientist...

Is not something I would expect to see for a long time! Groups like the Heritage Foundation & the Republican Party have convinced enough Americans that scientist can't be trusted because they claim you came from monkeys! So, we see a culture that thinks scientist are simply "elitist" hell bent on attacking religion & the America way! SAD!!

[PATRICK]

9. Scientists

in the media docket realize(even if subconsciously) they are standing in a kangaroo corporatist court which is edited and interpreted for the public by a severe, deceitful, playfully dumbed down bias. For which lies of focused interest are given equal and preferential treatment.

I believe the foundations of science itself are institutionally corrupted by the their intent by the investment and control of capital, into optimism, pragmatism or repressed caution. Less than the media perhaps because the corruption game can ruthlessly backfire in the physical world(nuclear industry?), this is a general overall effect impression of mine. Which is why the eternal surprise of shit happening
seems to be the unreflective scientific reaction to global warming and other undeniable events.

Good news for comfort and investment, bad news for fear to effect the masses. That is the role corporate rule has for "science". When corporate heads can say "do you think I would poison myself and my own children?" or a scornfully laughing Gov. Hugh Carey(D-NY) brags he will drink a gallon of Love Canal water you know the overall anti-scientific force is pervasive and real all the way to the greedy point of the dunce cap humanity wears- sitting in a corner, waiting to die.

[Pharaoh]

8. Let's see, did'nt Reagan

Fire all the air traffic controllers in the 80's and bust their union?

And their jobs have become ever more stressful and understaffed now? Hmmmmmmmmmm? What would the Repugs say if the press actually had the balls to bring up that fact? :freak:

[No Elephants]

11. We've had four Presidents since St. Ronnie left office, so plenty of blame to go around.

Bet Ronnie napped on the job, though.

[valerief]

14. He took naps, too. nt

[eppur_se_muova]

15. GMTA! nt

[James48]

12. The facts about human nature, and sleepy controllers

This is written by Don Brown, a now-retired Air Traffic Controller who has written a lot
over the years about ATC, and the solution to rotating shifts.

Read http://gettheflick.blogspot.com/2011/04/one-sleepy-controller.html

It's an excellent piece about the issue.

[eppur_se_muova]

16. It's easier to assume humans are interchangable machine parts.

When one fails to perform, trash and replace. The bottom line will reward you.

Meanwhile ... European office manufacturers are introducing reclining work chairs, to make office naps more comfortable.


http://www.sedus.com/se/it/press/detail.php?ID=4&lang=eng

[valerief]

13. I'm sure the FAA figures that since there's plenty of meth in the US, the controllers have no excuse

So they get sick and die. So what? The FAA doesn't care. It's not like the controllers are personnel. They're resources to be used and discarded as needed. Just like the rest of us.

[BrklynLiberal]

17. Naps are good.....always have been, always will be.

[grahamhgreen]

18. As someone who works 24 hours at a time sometimes, I couldn't agree more!