Changes needed to reduce shift work stress
January 1, 1998 2 minutes read
Changes needed to reduce shift work stress
Hospitals and other employers of shift workers should consider schedule changes to decrease health and safety problems linked to night shifts or rotating hours, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
A new NIOSH publication (see Editor’s note) advises employers to implement a wide range of strategies to ease difficulties associated with shift work. Problems include disruption of the body’s internal circadian rhythms, with resulting sleep loss that can make it difficult for workers to concentrate, increasing the possibility of error and job-related injury. Digestive problems, heart problems, and stresses from interference with family and social life also have been connected to shift work.
"Working nontraditional shifts is a common and often necessary part of many jobs, but businesses and individuals can take many practical steps to reduce the detrimental effects of shift work on worker safety and health," says Linda Rosenstock, MD, MPH, NIOSH director.
Recommended strategies include:
• Considering schedule changes such as alternatives to permanent night shifts, avoiding quick shift changes, and shift length adjustments to suit workloads as appropriate to the specific work situation. All aspects of the worker’s job and home life should be considered.
• Scheduling heavy or demanding work when workers are most alert or at peak performance, providing training or awareness programs for new shift workers and their families, and ensuring that health care and counseling services are available.
• Increasing employee awareness of the needs for sound sleep, establishing a workable sleep routine, and considering the value of good nutrition, exercise, and relaxation techniques to ease stress.
NIOSH points out that bright lights can be used to adjust the body’s circadian rhythm and change times of peak alertness, but this strategy requires expert planning and might not be practical for some shift workers. While melatonin has received attention recently as a sleep aid, the agency states that research presently is insufficient to recommend its use for shift workers.
[Editor’s note: Copies of the NIOSH publication, Plain Language About Shiftwork, are available free by calling (800) 35-NIOSH. Ask for NIOSH (DHHS) Publication No. 97-145.]
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