The
United States has increasingly become a 24/7 society. With the Internet and the
advent of things such as 24-hour shopping, the number of 24/7 work situations
where night shifts are required has accelerated. Some 15 million workers work
the night shift across the country.
The
night shift, however, can pose risks to workers. Studies have linked the night
shift to
adverse health risks and increased safety risks. For example, a study has found
that working the night shift increases the risk of breast and colon cancer in
women and prostate cancer in men. Researchers involved in the study theorize
that shift work interferes with normal circadian rhythms, thus suppressing
immune system function and reducing the production of melatonin (a hormone that
is believed to inhibit cell damage).
Another
study on workers' health found that women working night shifts are more likely
to be forced into early retirement because of poor health and disability. Still,
other studies have linked the night shift to heart disease, peptic ulcers, and
pregnancy complications. With respect to safety, a program by the Liberty Mutual
Research Institute found that work-related injuries increased more than 15
percent on afternoon shifts and almost 28 percent on the night shift, as
compared to the morning shift.
We're
likely to see more nightshift work, especially with globalization and the
continued use of the Internet, so what can an employer do to address hazards
associated with the night shift? Here are points employers should consider when
examining the health and safety of their nightshift workers:
Set
a fixed night shift rather than a rotating one.
Employees who work a rotating shift schedule get less sleep than those who work
fixed shifts, according to a study published this month in Occupational
Health & Safety. The study's authors theorize that working a fixed
shift, rather than rotating shifts, allows people to better adjust their
circadian rhythms to working the night shift. The caveat to this was that when
employees went back to daytime schedules on their off days, they significantly
reduced the benefits of working a fixed night shift.
Encourage
employees to get enough sleep.
Educate
employees on the importance of getting enough sleep, and give them tips on how
to accomplish it, including keeping the same sleep schedule on their days off,
establishing sleep routines (i.e., bedtime routines) to help them fall
asleep more easily, and using dark curtains when sleeping during the day. Also,
warn against the use of over-the-counter sleep medications and alcohol as sleep
aids, as these can actually exacerbate sleep problems in the long term.
Try
to limit shift work to four consecutive nights followed by a couple of days off.
The
Liberty Mutual Research Institute study found that the average risk for injury
was 36 percent higher on the last night of a four-night shift, and that risk
increases incrementally over each night on the job.
Pay
attention to the work environment.
To improve
alertness levels for nightshift workers, ensure that work areas are properly lit
(i.e., brighter light is better than dim) and are kept cool but
comfortable. Also, continuous humming or droning noises can make people drowsy,
as can repetitive tasks. Whenever possible, muffle or mask these noises (by
playing music of varying tempos, for example), and rotate employees among jobs.
Allow
shorter, more frequent breaks.
Studies have found that injury risk to employees on the night shift increase as
the time between breaks increases. Rather than giving one or two long breaks
during the shift, give employees three or four shorter breaks, where possible.
Discuss
diet with employees.
Digestive processes are affected by circadian rhythms, and nightshift workers
have been shown to have an increased risk of gastrointestinal problems.
Encourage employees to eat healthy, low-fat foods (such as fruits, vegetables,
whole grain carbohydrates, and lean meats) during meal and rest breaks to reduce
digestive problems and also to help maintain alertness while working. Employers
may want to consider, for example, replacing "standard" snack machines
stocked with chips and candy with refrigerated snack machines which stock fruit
and low-fat cheese and yogurt. And, although caffeinated beverages may help with
alertness during the shift, they can affect employees' sleep after the shift and
can also cause digestive problems.
The night shift appears to be here to stay. As employers have more employees working the graveyard shift, reducing the health and safety risks associated with 24/7 operations must be addressed.