Strategies for Minimizing Negative Impacts of Shift Work
The International Labour Organization defines shift work as “a method of organization of working time in which workers succeed one another at the workplace so that the establishment can operate longer than the hours of work of individual workers” (IARC, volume 98, 2010). Shift work allows for continuous services and production 24 hours per day. Examples of such around-the-clock work include health care, protective services, customs and immigration, electrical utilities, and transportation. Many manufacturing and seasonal workplaces also work 24 hours a day to maximize efficiency and productivity. In today’s economic global integration and high-tech industrial era, “shift work is a reality for about 20 percent of the North American working population” (Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, 2010). Shift work is more than a work schedule – it is a way of life. When shift schedules change, a shift worker’s entire life changes. It definitely impacts on a shift worker’s individual, family and social life, as well as health. Interest in the effects of shift work on people has developed. Many industrial health professionals are involving shift work in health fields. The strategies for minimizing negative impacts of shift work depend on how thoroughly a shift worker understands the impacts, how effectively a shift worker makes adjustments, and how strongly a shift worker attains supports from families, friends and coworkers.
First of all, a shift worker needs to investigate carefully and understand thoroughly the negative impacts and implications of shift work. According to a workbook, Shift Work: Health Effects & Solutions, factors affect adaptation to shift work include: 1. Age; 2.Gender; 3. Previous Shift work experience; 4. Morning/night person; 5. Fitness Level; 6. Health Status; 7. Circadian Rhythm; 8.Contentment with the Job (Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., 2005). All of these factors contribute to the mental and physical health of shift workers.
However, within all these factors, the circadian rhythm plays a significant role. After millions of years of evolution, human beings have become a day-orientated species. People’s lives follow the cycle of the sun. People’s bodies are programmed by their biological clocks. These internal biological clocks govern human beings’ sleep-wake cycle. When a person is sleeping, complex physiological changes occur: 1.Body Temperature decreases.2.Heart rate and blood pressure decrease. 3. Kidney and bowel function is suppressed.4.Hormones for tissue restoration increase.5.Hormones that maintain wakefulness decrease (IARC, volume 98, 2010). In addition, there are distinct rhythmic changes in the course of a 24-hour period. For example, the heart rate and body temperature are typically the lowest around 4:00 am, and peak in mid-afternoon. Shift work is often opposite to the trend of circadian rhythm. This is one of the reasons why in the early morning, normally, the interval of 4:00 am is the most tired moment for shift workers. Studies of new shift workers demonstrate dropout rates of 20% at 1 year and 33% at 2 years (IARC, volume 98, 2010).
There are numerous disadvantages to working shifts including a disruption to one’s social life. Due to the rotating schedules, a shift worker may find it difficult to maintain regular leisure activities; they may find it hard to meet parental responsibilities; there is maybe less communications with friends; and furthermore, there can be tension and problems within marriage. Accompanying with health effects, are digestive system problems, sleep disorder, risk of chronic diseases, fatigue syndrome, mood changes, and mental health issues. A shift worker may miss important events such as family members’ birthday celebration parties, children’s school meetings, and other important social events.
Secondly, a shift worker needs to make numerous adjustments physically, mentally and attitudinally. Physical adjustments are very critical steps in this adjustment stage. A shift worker should develop healthy sleep habits. Disruption of both the quality and quantity of the normal sleep is inevitable in shift work, particularly where night work is involved (Erman, 2011). Another fact is the daytime sleep is seldom as deep or as refreshing as sleep at night. Therefore, a shift worker has to ensure he or she has a comfortable, quiet place to sleep, and has adequate sleep time. Air conditioning, a telephone answering machine, foam earplugs and good blinds are all useful implements to improve shift workers’ sleep quality. A shift worker should learn how to get thorough relaxation after a shift cycle as well.
A shift worker ought to adapt health dietary and eating patterns. Some tips include afternoon workers should have their meal in the middle of the day instead of the middle of their work shift. Night workers should eat lightly throughout the shift, and have a moderate breakfast. Relax during meals and allow time for digestion. Drink lots of water. Cut back on highly salted foods. Reduce foods high in fat. Maintain regular eating patterns with well-balanced meals, and avoid junk food and limit fat intake. Eat the usual balance of vegetables, fruit, lean meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, grain, and bread. Minimize the intake of caffeine and alcohol. Reduce fast food and vending machines (Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., 2005). Eating healthy will go a long way to feeling well physically and mentally.
A shift worker needs to learn how to prioritize and optimize his or her working strengths in different time intervals (Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., 2005). 80-90% of shift workers express concerns about fatigue or drowsiness at the end of shift work. If working under tiring conditions, it is very easy to make human errors; there can be poorer performance especially at night. For example, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill, nuclear accident at three-mile island of USA, and other air crashes or catastrophic accidents occurred between midnight and 6 am (IARC, volume 98, 2010). Rearranging or trying to avoid big, critical operations between the intervals of 2:00 am to 6:00 am are possible methods to reduce accidents.
A shift worker needs to mentally adjust him or herself. Recognizing stresses, anxieties, and even depression are more likely to occur within shift workers. The causes may result from lack of socializing with family and friends. Perhaps it is hard to plan for family responsibilities and take part in regular off-job activities; maybe rotation makes it hard to form routines. There may also be a decrease in job satisfaction and motivation (Root & Rudd, 2008).
Maintaining positive, relaxed and healthy psychology is the key to coping with shift work. Learning how to reduce stresses through physical fitness and relaxation techniques is important. In particular, education in stress recognition and reduction techniques is helpful.
Counseling with mental health professionals or seeking help from the company’s employee assistance programs are effective methods to identifying and rectifying mental health issues (Alberta, 2010).
A shift worker may need to adjust his/her attitude. In fact, attitude determines the success or failure of a work placement. A shift worker with a positive attitude would be dedicated and aggressive in the workplace, and easily find out the beauty of the work. A positive attitude will go a long way when working with peers, supervisors, and the general public
A shift worker also needs to understand and appreciate the dangers of a negative attitude to shift works. If a shift worker amplifies or focuses on the disadvantages of shift work, he or she would have lost the passion and initiative for the shift work. This could result in a perfunctory performance, and bring in potential troubles to the workplace (Root & Rudd, 2008).
To summarize the advantages of shift work, the more you pay, the more you gain. In fact, shift work has many great advantages. For example, there is convenient schedule whereby one can avoid rush traffic and save gas. A shift worker is available to go shopping during non-peak hours. Shift work can also earn extra holiday and overtime payments. Shift workers can then own concentrated time to travel.
After a shift worker gradually adapts the rhythm of a shift, he or she may grow to like rotating works. Having a good mood in the workplace will improve working efficiency and make work fun. This is a win-win result.
Finally, a shift worker needs to communicate closely with his or her family members, friends and coworkers, and get their understanding and supports. It is important that the shift workers have a strong support network. Some methods of support include keeping in touch closely with one’s spouse, children and parents, and knowing their thoughts, plans, and demands at the first time. “A shift worker cannot ignore spouse’s any emotional changes, please talk more, and exchange ideas.” (Kevin H., 2011). Kevin Huang is a long-term shift worker in a nuclear plant. He emphasized, “My shift schedule often has time conflicts with my family affairs, especially, my boy is a toddler; and my wife contributes most of her time on him. When I am in a shift cycle, she has to take care of him 24 hours a day. Sometime, she feels very tired; when I am on break time of work, I call and soothe her, even switch schedule with my colleague, and let her have a good rest”, he realized, “ it is very important to communicating with spouse continuously, to understand her real thoughts, and find out best ways to reduce her pressures.” (Kevin H., 2011). Setting up family meetings frequently, is also a democratic method to keeping communication channels open. Other good methods include planning in advance for family members’ celebrating events, scheduling every possible meal with family and spending more time to stay with family members.
Socializing with friends and community events regularly is an important step to normalizing shift work. A shift worker can remain in contact with friends regularly through phoning, emailing, or web chatting. Finding more time to have meals with them together can be a challenge but is strongly encouraged. Scheduling multifamily parties or entertainment activities can help build rapport with family members. Finally, involvement in sporting events or religious activities in order to avoid social marginalization is also important (Root & Rudd, 2008)
Becoming an excellent shift team player is essential to having a happy and healthy workplace. In any workplace, good shift team players like helping and encouraging each other. Good shift team players also like reminding each other about work related issues and avoiding human errors while tackling complicated problems. Good shift team players tend to create relaxed working atmospheres. A team environment will release stress and pressure which shift work can bring on (Root & Rudd, 2008).
Getting supports from supervisors and managers is important. Possessing positive attitudes to communicate with supervisors and managers will help the shift worker understands his or her work’s importance. If a shift worker gains the recognition from the leaders as well, he or she will work more happily, and then perhaps increase career development opportunities.
Conclusion:
Just like a coin has two sides, shift work has advantages and disadvantages as well. In some specific aspects, the disadvantages of shift work are significant. Definitely, a shift worker can utilize scientific solutions to minimize the negative impacts, through physical, mental and attitudinal adjustments, and build up strong supports from families, friends and coworkers. After taking great efforts, the improvement will be remarkable, and shift work will no longer be a headache.
Word account: 1888
References
Alberta Government. (October, 2010).Shift Work: Getting Enough Sleep and Physical Activity
Retrieved from
http://www.healthyalberta.com/HealthyPlaces/685.htm
Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety. (2010, November). Why study the effects on circadian rhythms? Retrieved from
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/shiftwrk.html#_1_4
Erman, M.K. (May, 2011). Shift Work Sleep Disorder Study
http://worldsleepfoundation.org/shift-work-disorder-news.htm
International Agency for Research of Cancer (, 2010). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans-- Painting, Firefighting, and Shiftwork, Volume 98.Lyon, France: IARC Monographs working group.
Huang, K. (Nov, 2011).How to handle the Time Conflict Situations with Family Member?
[Phone interview]
Root L., & Rudd E C., (December, 2008). Shift work –A Work-Family Strategy or a Deal with the Devil? Retrieved from
http://wfnetwork.bc.edu/The_Network_News/06/The_Network_News_Interview06.pdf
Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. (Revised 2005).Shift Work: Health Effects & Solutions .Hamilton, ON: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc.
