Define what is meant by shift work and provide 3 reasons why shift work needed
shift working 12 hour days 4 days a week
- process industries - many modern industries such as power plants and steel works cannot close at night
- economic pressures - companies often prefer to introduce a second and third shift bc production machinery is expensive and cannot be duplicated
- service sector demand - many types of jobs where people are needed around clock (restaurant, call center)
What is Circadian Rhythm, how long does it typically takes to fully adjust from working days to working nights? What are 2 reasons why it takes so long to adjust?
The human body has a natural 24 hour clock or rhythm which is difficult to change. It takes 3 weeks working at night before a person’s Circadian Rhythm fully adapts to be up at night and sleep in a day
Daylight- human body associates more light as being awake.
Social and environmental factors - easier to sleep at night due to less disturbing noise and social activities
What are the 5 typical problems associated with working night shift
- fatigue
- health disorders
- disruptive of social life
- decreased productivity
- safety
In German and Scandinavian countries there is a clear preference for fast, forward rotating schedules. What is the rationale for this?
- number of consecutive night shifts should be as few as possible.
- preferably only one consecutive night shift in a shift schedule
