Transcript SHIFT WORK

SHIFT WORK
&
HEALTH
Dr.Omid Aminian
Associate professor
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Shift Work
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Shift work involves work at times other than
normal daylight hours 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
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10%-25% all workers are doing shift work
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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
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Effects of shift work
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Health effects
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Safety effects
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Family and social effects
Health effects
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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
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Sleep deprivation is the most significant
complaint in shift work
About 62% of night worker complain sleep
deprivation
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Shift work affects not only sleep length but also
sleep quality
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REM decrease in the sleep after night work
Safety effects
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Increased physical and mental fatigue
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Concentration difficulties
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Increased risk of accidents
Family and social effects
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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
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Sleep disorder
Asthma
Coronary artery disease
Psychiatric disorder
Epilepsy
Gastrointestinal disease
Shift maladaption syndrome
Long-term drug therapy
Shift Work maladaptation
syndrome
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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
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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
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Lack of Communication between staff on
different shifts
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Lack of “Teamwork”
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Lack of concentration while on duty
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Potential Unsafe Conditions
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Stress/fatigue