Research has shown that 17 to 19 hours without sleep affects cognitive performance to the same extent that having a blood alcohol concentration of...

Research has shown that 17 to 19 hours without sleep affects cognitive performance to the same extent that having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 percent does. Twenty-eight hours without sleep impairs performance as much as or more than having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.1 percent, which is above the legal limit to be considered drunk.

What is the significance of this for professions where people routinely work a day shift followed by a night shift, such as long-distance transportation workers and medical residents?