A Blue-Enriched Light Intervention Counteracts the Alertness Decrement Among Mine Workers on Extended 12-Hour Night Shift Periods

Abstract

Objective The aim of the study is to assess whether a blue-enriched light intervention improves nocturnal alertness and daytime sleep of night workers. Methods Thirteen miners performing 12-hour night shifts for 12 consecutive nights were exposed to a baseline and a blue-enriched light condition. All subjects wore an actigraph and completed a Psychomotor Vigilance Task at the beginning and at the end of each shift. Data were analyzed with linear mixed models. Results In the blue-enriched light condition, the daily increase in median reaction time (RT), mean RT, slowest 10% of RT, and fastest 10% of RT was lower than that observed in the baseline condition between day 1 and 12 (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions The addition of blue-enriched light during a long period of extended night shifts counteracts most of the daily decline in nocturnal alertness observed in the standard lighting condition, irrespectively of sleep duration and sleep efficiency.