Spring is coming fast, and that’s good news for contractors who won’t be working in the winter chill or starting their days before sunrise anymore.

But with spring comes the start of Daylight Saving Time, and that is no one’s favorite weekend of the year.

We’re not just whining when we complain about the hour of sleep we lose when we “spring forward.” The fact is, workplace injuries spike immediately following the time change.

Two separate studies out of Michigan State University found that the March time change resulted in a nearly 6 percent increase in workplace injury, and close to 70 percent more work days lost due to injury—all because of a deficit of 40 minutes of sleep.

That lost sleep also causes attention levels to drop, researchers found. That’s a particular problem for those working in high-risk industries, such as construction.

As if that’s not concerning enough, car accidents are reportedly 8.6 percent more common on the Monday after Daylight Saving Time. This is an issue for everyone who commutes to work, and especially for those who drive on the job, as on a construction site.

Well, we’ve just brought you a load of pretty bad news. Here’s some good news to lighten things up: you can actually take steps to reduce the negative impact of Daylight Saving Time.

Getting Through the Time Change Safely

Help your workers to start the first week of Daylight Saving Time refreshed by sharing these tips with them:

• Each night before Daylight Saving Time begins, go to bed 15-20 minutes earlier than the night before, catching up on that lost hour of sleep in advance.
• Go to bed at your usual time on Saturday and Sunday.
• Get up at your usual time Sunday morning.
• If you nap to catch up on lost sleep, make sure to limit the nap to a half hour or so. That will make it easier to get a good night’s sleep later.

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