A person can rarely turn on the TV, listen to the radio or flip through a magazine these days without seeing an advertisement for an energy drink. Some of the more recognizable brands include Monster, Rockstar, 5-Hour Energy and Red Bull. These drinks are often marketed towards teenagers and college students, but are often used by adults in order to get an extra “jolt” of energy needed to get through the workday. Concrete cutting, scanning, polishing and demolition operators are no exception. Operators often work long hours, and may start a shift early in the morning or work late into the night. Because these drinks offer a quick shot of energy, many operators will be tempted to forgo their usual coffee and grab an energy drink for a long day of work. The problem lies with what the energy drink contains. The obvious ingredient is caffeine, offering that boost of energy. However, other ingredients are also present, including taurine, guarana (both stimulants) and B vitamins. The boost of energy you receive when consuming an energy drink comes from this combination of stimulants. A typical cup of coffee brewed at home or at work contains about 100mg of caffeine. A cup of Starbucks coffee has about 165mg of caffeine. According to Consumer Reports, safe limits of caffeine are up to 400mg per day for healthy adults, 200mg a day for pregnant women and up to 45-85mg per day for children, depending on weight. So if you consume more than 4 regular cups of coffee per day, you are at or over your limit. A recent test by Consumer Reports found that: 5-Hour Energy contains 215mg of caffeine per serving 5-Hour Energy Extra Strength contains 242mg of caffeine per serving Monster Energy contains 92mg of caffeine per serving (2 servings per drink) Rockstar Energy contains 80mg of caffeine per serving (2 servings per drink) Rockstar Energy Shot contains 229mg of caffeine per serving Red Bull Energy Drink contains 80mg of caffeine per serving High doses of caffeine and other stimulants can result in restlessness, nervousness, insomnia and tremors. High doses can also trigger seizures and heart arrhythmias (unstable heart rhythms). All of these symptoms have been reported in cases of patient hospitalization following the consumption of an energy drink. Unfortunately, some of these hospitalizations have lead to permanent disability or even...