Transcript SHIFT WORK
SHIFT WORK
&
HEALTH
Dr.Omid Aminian
Associate professor
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Shift Work
Shift work involves work at times other than
normal daylight hours 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
10%-25% all workers are doing shift work
shift work have been associated with:
Immediate risk to worker safety
Long term risk to worker health
Occupations involving Shift Work
Police & fire protection
Medical care
Transport – bus, train, shipping, and airlines
communication
Energy & water utilities
Effects of shift work
Health effects
Safety effects
Family and social effects
Health effects
Changes in natural body rhythms
Sleep problems
Increased risk of heart disease
Menstrual problems and difficulties during pregnancy
Disturbed eating patterns and poor diet
Gastrointestinal disorders and gastric ulcers
Use of alcohol and other drugs
Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is the most significant
complaint in shift work
About 62% of night worker complain sleep
deprivation
Shift work affects not only sleep length but also
sleep quality
REM decrease in the sleep after night work
Safety effects
Increased physical and mental fatigue
Concentration difficulties
Increased risk of accidents
Family and social effects
Isolation from family activities
Lack of contact with partners
Reduced interest in sex
Reduced contact with school age children
Higher rates of marriage breakup
Reduced friendship networks
Condition That May Be Exacerbate By
Shift Work
Sleep disorder
Asthma
Coronary artery disease
Psychiatric disorder
Epilepsy
Gastrointestinal disease
Shift maladaption syndrome
Long-term drug therapy
Shift Work maladaptation
syndrome
10%-20% all shift workers
Chronic sleep disturbance & fatigue
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Alcohol and drug abuse
Depression
Difficult inter personal relationships
Use of sleeping pills
Higher accident
Length of shifts and working hours
maximum of
6 consecutive 8-hour shifts
2 consecutive night shifts
2 consecutive 12-hour shifts
12 hours overtime per week
12 hours work per day
48 hours rostered work per week
Breaks during shifts
Common Negative Effects of
Shift Work
Lack of Communication between staff on
different shifts
Lack of “Teamwork”
Lack of concentration while on duty
Potential Unsafe Conditions
Stress/fatigue