The relationship between fatigue-related factors and work-related injuries in the saskatchewan farm injury Cohort Study

Background The objective was to examine the relationship between seasonal variations in sleep quantity and work-related injuries on Saskatchewan farms. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of data from the Saskatchewan Farm Injury Cohort Study was conducted. Analyses were restricted to workers, aged >= 16 years. The primary outcome was work-related injury in the last year. Logistic regression models were used to identify associations between sleep quantity and farm injury. Results After controlling for confounding variables peak production season sleep was not associated with increased odds of injury. However, those obtaining <= 5 hr sleep per night during non-peak production seasons had increased odds of injury (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.04-5.59) compared with those sleeping >= 7 hr per night. Conclusions We identified that restricted sleep durations, in certain seasons, placed farmers, and farm workers at risk of injury. Agricultural injury intervention programs need to consider the role of seasonal-related variations in sleep on farm injury. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55: 367-375, 2012. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.