AbitibiBowater, Canada Post night workers take part in study on how a special blue light could help night-shift workers stay refreshed on and off the job; new technology expected to aid more than 6.5 million Canadians who work night shifts
Sandy Yang
DON MILLS, Ontario
,
August 3, 2012
(National Post)
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Canadian researchers have discovered that a special blue light could help shift workers stay refreshed on and off the job. The device, which emits low level blue light, tricks the body into thinking it's daytime, then special glasses worn to block the light can signal to the body it's time to sleep. The new technology is expected to aid the more than 6.5 million Canadians who work night shifts and suffer the ill-effects of sleep deprivation from their off-kilter internal clocks. The finding comes from University of Laval researchers who tested Quebec City police officers and night workers at Canada Post and forestry company Abitibi-Bowater. They found that those who used the light and glasses slept up to 40 minutes longer than coworkers.
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