Monday, August 23, 2021

Dangerous Distractions

One of the many perils of the pandemic is that workers are now more distracted than ever

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According to Canadian Occupational Safety, an unfocussed mind can cause workplace accidents, mishaps, and near-misses—especially in manufacturing and distribution settings and in front-line or essential services work sites. While underlying mental and physical health struggles can contribute to a distracted mind, they outline three other sources that have been exacerbated in many workers since the first wave of the pandemic.

Stress overload – Stress and worry about relationships, job security, finances, family members, personal health and safety, and general anxiety about the state of the world have plagued workers in every industry in the last 18 months. A mind fraught by fear is not a focussed one.
Lack of sleep – Due to the stress mentioned in point one, many workers have reported having difficulty sleeping or staying asleep, sleep disorders, and messed up Circadian rhythms, all leading to fatigue at work. Lack of sleep can have disastrous consequences, from minor missteps to major accidents.
Self medicating – In the wake of the pandemic, many workers have turned to drugs and alcohol to cope and distract themselves.

CLAC Can Help

If you or someone you love has an addiction, CLAC’s case managers can help. If you need help, have questions, or want to speak with a substance abuse case manager, please call 1-877-863-5154 or email sacm@clac.ca. All inquiries will be handled in the strictest of confidence.

Access more resources about addiction on the My Health and Wellness page of myCLAC.ca.

Source: thesafetymag.com

Dangerous Distractions

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