Lighting Interventions and Sleepiness in Night‑Shift Workers: Meta‑analysis
Summary
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated 14 intervention studies from 7 countries to test whether lighting strategies reduce sleepiness in night-shift workers. Researchers pooled results across trials that compared standard lighting with alternatives such as bright light and blue-enriched light. Overall, lighting interventions significantly reduced self-reported sleepiness, with the strongest effects seen for blue-enriched white light above 5000 Kelvin. These findings provide consistent evidence that tailored lighting can help night-shift workers feel less drowsy during overnight hours.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
For night workers, this research shows that workplace lighting can be more than cosmetic — it’s a tool for staying alert. Exposure to bright, blue-enriched light during shifts consistently reduced sleepiness in the studies analyzed. While the research measured how tired people felt rather than job performance or accidents, it offers clear, evidence-based guidance: using the right color and intensity of light can help workers fight fatigue and make overnight work more manageable.
Notes
Includes multi‑country trials; practical parameters.