A new study has concluded that a shot of caffeine can reduce mistakes made by drowsy shift workers.

The study by Cochrane researchers has implications for health workers and for any industry relying on shift or night work, such as transportation.

It has been reported that more than 15 percent of workers in industrialized countries are involved in some shift or night time work, which may upset natural circadian rhythms or ''body clocks''.

In so-called shift work disorder (SWD), workers sleep only for short periods and consequently can become very sleepy during working hours. Sleepiness is thought to increase the risk of adverse events such as traffic crashes, occupational injuries and medical errors.

It was further reported that the researchers reviewed data from 13 trials studying the effects of caffeine on performance in shift workers, mostly in simulated working conditions. Caffeine was given in coffee, pills, energy drinks or caffeinated food. In some trials, performance was assessed by tasks such as driving, whereas in others it was assessed by neuropsychological tests.

Caffeine appeared to reduce errors compared to placebos or naps, and improve performance in various neuropsychological tests, including those focusing on memory, attention, perception and concept formation and reasoning.

According to researchers, none of the trials measured injuries directly, but improved performance may translate into reduced numbers of injuries caused by sleepiness.

Lead researcher Katharine Ker of the London School of Tropical Medicine in London, UK, says, "It seems reasonable to assume that reduced errors are associated with fewer injuries, although we cannot quantify such a reduction." (With Inputs from Agencies)