Effects of Shift Work on Health and Well-being

Poster Summary

Concept of Shift work
Shift work is considered as the practice of employment that is developed for
making use of or offer services around all 24 hours of clock and every day in a week. The
practice views the days that are categorized into shifts, set time period while several workers
carries out the duties. On other words the concept of shift work is kind of work schedule wherein
the workers group rotates through a stated time period across the day1. Under this specifically
particular kind of work is being carried out. It has been assessed that shift work is regarded as
most common technique within the production environment in which repetitive activities are
being carried out and the process of production takes place across the clock.
Manner in which shift work affects the health and well being
Shift work can be very disruptive towards the health and well being of the individual. In
the year 2008 National sleep foundation poll reflects that 63% of work schedule allows in getting
adequate sleep. They are more likely to sleep fewer in comparison with 6 hours on the working
days, to work for greater hours per week on an average2.
Effects of shift work
With the shift work there is presence of several effects. This is comprised of health and
cognitive effects.
Health effects: By the means of shiftwork there is increase in the risk associated with the
development of several disorders. With shift work there is enhancement in the risk towards
development of cluster headaches, heart attacks, fatigue stress, sexual dysfunction, obesity,
dementia as well as depression. The work that is being carried out in shift worse the chronic
diseases that is comprised of disorders in relation to sleep, digestive disease, hypertension,
mental disorders, substance, asthma as well as abuse as well as any other kind of health
conditions that can be treated with medications influenced by the circadian cycle. The health
1 Hemiö K, Puttonen S, Viitasalo K, Härmä M, Peltonen M, Lindström J. Food and nutrient
intake among workers with different shift systems. Occupational and environmental medicine.
2015 Apr 20:oemed-2014.
2 Roskoden FC, Krüger J, Vogt LJ, Gärtner S, Hannich HJ, Steveling A, Lerch MM, Aghdassi
AA. Physical Activity, Energy Expenditure, Nutritional Habits, Quality of Sleep and Stress
Levels in Shift-Working Health Care Personnel. PLOS ONE. 2017 Jan 12;12(1):e0169983.

consequences of the working in shifts is dependent on chronotype that presents being day or
night person what shifts is assigned to the workers. Various shift schedules have varied influence
on the health of employee who is working in shift3.
Cognitive effects: In comparison with the day shift injuries as well as accidents have been
estimated to enhance by 15% on evening shifts and 28% in case of night shifts. It has been
assessed that longer shifts are attached with more injuries as well accidents.
Issues
In addition to this, it can be stated that there are number of issues which need to be
referred by every business firm while having an application of shift working. One of key issue
which is faced by management is regarding health risk. It has been noticed that in shift working
the individuals are more focused towards diverse in-balance activities. It is because the shift
timing does not allow to take food on proper timing which create a negative impact over
individual health. Moreover, the issue in respect to the stomach problems because of irregular
diet habits. Along with this, issue in respect to the improper sleep is also being faced. It
influences the overall outcome and affects the health aspects. Such kind of values also impact the
working of business firms so management need to ensure about values effectively4.
However, the individual can also faces the issues in regard to sleep disorder. By having
an consideration of diverse methods the health standards need to be improved so that sleep
disorder issue can be overcome effectively. As shift work has become more widespread, the
health risks have become a focus for both employees as well as employer. It impacts the
satisfaction level and active work status so that management need to ensure about such values5.
3 Elliott JL, Lal S. Blood pressure, sleep quality and fatigue in shift working police officers:
Effects of a twelve hour roster system on cardiovascular and sleep health. International journal of
environmental research and public health. 2016 Jan 29;13(2):172.
4 Attarchi M, Raeisi S, Namvar M, Golabadi M. Association between shift working and
musculoskeletal symptoms among nursing personnel. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery
research. 2014 Jan 6;19(3):309-14.
5 Karhula K, HÄRMÄ M, Sallinen M, Hublin C, Virkkala J, KIVIMÄKI M, Vahtera J, Puttonen
S. Job strain, sleep and alertness in shift working health care professionals—a field study.
Industrial health. 2013;51(4):406-16.