2. SHIFT WORK & HEALTH Dr.Omid Aminian Associate professor
Tehran University of Medical Sciences

3. 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

4. Occupations involving Shift Work
Police & fire protection
Medical care
Transport – bus, train, shipping, and airlines
communication
Energy & water utilities

5. Effects of shift work Health effects Safety effects
Family and social effects

6. 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

7. 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

8. Safety effects Increased physical and mental fatigue
Concentration difficulties
Increased risk of accidents

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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