It is a well-known fact that working at night involves health risks. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes type II and obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and mental disorders occur more frequently on average than in people who work exclusively during the day. In addition, cognitive problems such as reduced concentration, alertness and reaction speed as well as extreme sleepiness are common. It goes without saying that this has a negative effect on safety.
Around the world, millions of people work nights. There are few official figures but according to science, an estimated 7-15% of the workforce in industrialised countries were engaged in some form of night work. The healthcare costs associated with working at night are substantial and multifaceted. Direct costs include treatment for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, metabolic disorders, mental health, and gastrointestinal issues, while indirect costs arise from lost productivity, disability, and early death. Combined, these costs can easily run into billions of dollars / euros annually, both for healthcare systems and economies globally.
There are limited possibilities to support working in the night shift, such as adapted nutrition (chrono dietetics) and smart schedules as well as a healthy lifestyle of the employee. However, research has shown that light is an important factor in improving the aforementioned cognitive functions. By improving these functions, safety during work increases and risks decrease.
By applying this light of a short wavelength in common, trendy safety glasses, two functions are cleverly combined. The low-intensity light that is controlled by an advanced self-thinking, cloud-based app is only projected onto the eye for a short time at night.Â
The correct timing of exposure to this blue light has little or no effect on the circadian rhythm. This method of administering light at the right time is called chrono coaching, a technique that has its origins in top-level sport. The glasses can also be worn during the day. A short pulse of blue light in the early morning for example helps you wake up faster and get to work energetically.Â
The PROPEAQ 3 Safety-Light-Glasses were created with a STIMULUS subsidy from the Dutch government in collaboration with GBO Design (Helmond), Thaumatec (Eindhoven/Wroclaw) and Dual Inventive (Oisterwijk).
