Rich sources of shift-work research available online (Web Sight)

Tips for how employers can improve workplace safety and the health of shift workers

The tragedies of Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and the Exxon Valdez all occurred during the night shift, says the Canada Safety Council’s website. Irregular hours, long shifts and monotonous work all contribute to the reduction of alertness on the job, it adds.

Although most organizations don’t need to worry about disasters of such magnitude as nuclear plant accidents or oil spills, issues involving shift work and safety are a big concern for many employees and employers. From truckers to manufacturers to health-care workers, shift work is a critical safety concern.

As the CSC says, “the costs are devastating in human terms, and the economic consequences are enormous.” Indeed, the National Institute for Working Life in Sweden estimates that worldwide, sleep-deprived workers cost $350 billion US a year. The following sites examine the issues surrounding health concerns for shift workers and point to ways employers can improve workplace safety.

A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF LINKS

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/workschedules

The website of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the United States has an extensive research area entitled, “Work Schedules: Shift Work and Long Work Hours.” This section provides links to NIOSH publications, conferences and other resources that examine issues relating to demanding work schedules. Scroll down the page to find a link to “Plain Language About Shift work,” a comprehensive look at the issue written for employees as well as employers.

The site also provides a search function called NIOSHTIC-2, a searchable database of occupational health and safety publications, reports and articles. Inputting key search words such as “shift work” and “fatigue” provides a vast array of resources. Under the “NIOSH Publications” heading, there’s a link to a 2004 NIOSH report, “Overtime and Extended Work Shifts: Recent Findings on Illnesses, Injuries, and Health Behaviours,” (www.cdc.gov/niosh/ docs/2004-143/pdfs/2004-143.pdf), which provides an integrative review of 52 research reports and examines the relationship between long working hours and illnesses, injuries, health behaviours and performance.

SASKATCHEWAN GOVERNMENT HIGHLIGHTS SHIFT-WORK MANAGEMENT

www.labour.gov.sk.ca/safety/shiftwork/

The Saskatchewan Labour site provides a section on managing shift work that looks at health and safety hazards as well as family and social issues that surround shift work. The site gives a good synopsis of ways shift-work hazards can be kept in check. Under the heading “How can shift-work hazards be controlled?” is a list of steps employers can take to reduce hazards, including shift scheduling, workplace design and worker education and instruction.

ROTATIONAL SHIFT WORK AND ITS EFFECTS

www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/work_schedules/shiftwrk.html

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety site looks specifically at rotational shift work and its effect on safety, circadian rhythms, sleep patterns, family and social life, as well as physical effects that can be caused or exacerbated by shift work, such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders. Rotational shift work often involves constantly changing schedules, night work and disruption to family and social life. The site includes information on considerations that organizations can take to help reduce the effect of shift work, including shift schedule design, facilities and education.

Ann Macaulay is a freelance editor and regular contributor to Canadian HR Reporter. Her Web Sight column appears regularly in the CloseUp section.

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