Ergonomics Report: Impact of Extended Work Hours at Amazing Suppliers

This report, prepared for the board of directors of Amazing Suppliers, examines the implications of implementing extended work shifts for warehouse staff. It delves into the potential health and well-being challenges associated with long working hours, including fatigue, sleep disorders, and the disruption of circadian rhythms. The report highlights the importance of ergonomics in mitigating these issues, discussing solutions such as cognitive testing and multi-latency tests to measure employee fatigue. It compares the experiences of employees working normal hours with those working extended shifts, and proposes guidelines for designing shift systems that prioritize employee health and work-life balance. The report concludes with recommendations for implementing new working hours, emphasizing the need for flexible arrangements, regular schedules, and ergonomic considerations to improve employee productivity and reduce the risk of work-related injuries.

Running head: EGRONOMICS
Ergonomics
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction:..................................................................................................................... 3
Findings:...........................................................................................................................3
Measuring of various health issues faced by employees due to long working hours:......7
Discussion of solutions and anticipated challenges:........................................................8
Solution for all the anticipated challenge faced due to shifting of working hours:............8
Comparison of normal person and person working for longer hours:...............................9
Plan to roll out new working hours for warehouse staffs:...............................................10
Conclusion and Recommendations:...............................................................................11
References list:.............................................................................................................. 13

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Introduction:
The report is prepared to be presented to the board of directors of Amazing
Suppliers that has been introducing change in work shift of their warehouse staffs.
Amazing Suppliers is a large organization that supplies wide range of goods that they
sell it through online channel. Since the demand of products sold is quite high, it has
been decided that in some areas. Twenty hour of working would be introduced and this
shift system would be majorly impacting warehouse staffs. Report intends to analyse
the impact of extended, overtime and long working hours and challenges faced by
organization. Twenty four working hours for the warehouse staffs would adversely
affecting the health and wellbeing of employees. Long working hours are potentially
dangerous to health of workers. Long working hours comes with the challenge and risk
of occupational illness and injuries. Challenges can be faced relating to work life
balance and workers might face psychological issues due to long extended working
hours. They would face changes sleeping and eating phase. Another issue is faced in
terms of inefficiency in the performance of workers due to disruption of circadian rhythm
combined with fatigue and sleep deficit. Organization would have lower efficiency of
performance for warehouse staffs. Long working shift would case long-term effects
concerning health and higher social and economic cost for both organization and
society as a whole (Broberg and Hall-Andersen 2014). On other hand, twelve hour
working shift can be tiring for administrative staffs. Nonetheless, it does not comes with
several challenges as it incorporates a well-balanced workloads and frequent rest
pauses.
Findings:
From the above discussion, it is ascertained that extended working hours comes
with several health issues faced by employees. Fatigue is one of the common complain
among the workers who are working for abnormal hours. It is noticeable after the night
shift of workers and least on the afternoon shift. This particular issue faced by workers
is somewhat difficult to measure Secondly, it will lower efficient performance of
employees due to long-term impact on health. In this particular section, the application
of concept of ergonomics is discussed in relation to challenges faced due to shift in

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working hours. Another issue that is faced by workers is that twenty hour working shift
has a relevant intervene with family and social life. This would result in psychosomatic
disorders and psychological stress. Great difficulties would be faced by warehouse staff
of organization in combing working and social times (Haslam and Waterson 2013). In
relation to complexity of personal duties, family time, coordination of workers with family
time table will become difficult.
Ergonomics or factor of human application have been ascertained to positively
affect the performance of workers, satisfaction and health and safety of workers. This
would impact the overall performance of organization in both direct and indirect way.
Ergonomics is a scientific approach that is related to the understanding of interaction
among human and other elements of a system. Organization practicing ergonomics
contributes to evaluation and designing of tasks jobs, environment, system and
products so that it is compatible with the abilities, needs and limitation of people.
Implementation of criteria of ergonomics would help in minimizing the adverse impact of
change in shifting schedules and leading to better place for working (Hignett et al.
2013). The schedule of shifting is required to be designed in accordance with ergonomic
criteria.
From the discussion of this particular section, it is inferred that organisation has
difficulties in measuring issues such as fatigue. Fatigue that are caused to workers due
to long hour of works can be measures using some methods or tools of analysis such
as Cognitive testing, multi latency test and Epworth Sleepiness scale. It would help in
minimizing the adverse impacts of shift schedule by limiting the impacts, lessening the
stress, avoiding consecutive number of prolonged night shifts, minimizing accumulation
of sleep deficits, circadian disruption and fatigue. Excess of consecutive working days
and prolonged working hours are connected with increased risk of ergonomics related
injuries. Ergonomics issues is associated with sleep deprivation and lost workdays due
to this continuous work shift. Sleep deprivation might lead to damage in terms of
ligament, muscle and tendon injury. This leads to increased risk of ergonomic injuries. It
has been found from previous research that twelve hour working shift is not regarded as
inherently damaging health and employees and they are not regarded as dangerous for

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employee’s health. Excess working hours is shouldered injuries due to unsatisfactory
leisure time (Franssila et al. 2016). Some of the guidelines according to ergonomics for
designing the shifting system are as follows:
 Slowly rotating system is not considered better compared to quickly rotating
shifting system as they assist in minimizing the cumulative sleep deficit extent
and have less interference with circadian rhythms (Young et al. 2015).
 Permanent night shift of twenty four hour shift is permitted only for warehouse
staffs and they should be guaranteed with highest level of safety by making
complete adjustment to night work schedule.
 Pro longed working shift needs to be contemplated when there is suitability in the
work load and workers should be provide with sufficient rest. Shift system is
designed in such a way that helps in minimizing the exposure to toxic substances
and fatigue accumulation.
 In order to meet preferences and needs of workers, organization should promote
flexible working arrangement.
 For reduction of truncation of sleep, organisation should avoid early start of
morning shift and consequently the reduction of risk of errors and fatigue.
 The shifting system soul be regular and free weekend should be guaranteed and
this would assist warehouse staffs in conveniently enjoying their leisure and
social time.
 There should be clockwise rotation as it is parallel to endogenous circadian
rhythm and it helps in avoiding quick changeovers and leading to immediate
recovery by allowing longer rest periods.
The balance in work life for employees working in organization is placing
increased importance in ergonomics. This concept consider accounting for both
diversities among individuals and group of workers. There are many effective guidelines
for instilling practice of ergonomics within the working environment. Improvement in
implementation of ergonomics will help in reducing the risk related to injury of
occupation. Practice of ergonomics provide with positive benefits such as improved
health and keeping workers healthy (Martin et al. 2013).

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Now, discussing the concepts of ergonomics in relation to lower worker
efficiency. It is done in terms of increased productivity resulting from increasing
effectiveness of workers or warehouse and administrative staffs. Workers are able to
accomplish their tasks efficiently when they have more energy and feel stronger in the
environment where they are working. Positive ergonomic techniques is employed by
organization is establishment of rules that helps in facilitating health of employees
(Yang et al. 2015). Risks of employee injuries and health issues can be reduced by
Amazing Suppliers by adhering to the principles of ergonomics. Productivity among
warehouse and administrative staffs of organization will be improved by opting for best
ergonomic solution. Workstation will be made more efficient by designing job in good
posture and better heights and reaches. Comfort level of employees is considerably
influenced by the office ergonomics. Application of this concept helps in designing job in
such a way that work is safer and efficient (Falzon 2014). Workers and staffs of
Amazing Suppliers would have increased productivity and would feel the comfort in
performing jobs by implementing solution of ergonomics.
Measuring of various health issues faced by employees due to long working
hours:
Epworth sleepiness scale- It is a self-rating scale on eight items and helps in
assessing the likelihood of employees of falling sleep. The likelihood of falling asleep is
rated on scale ranging from 0 to 3. 3 indicates high chance of falling asleep and 0
indicates no chance of falling asleep. Greater sleep propensity is reflected by higher
scores and total score ranges from 0 to 24. Employees complaining excessive day time
sleepiness would score 12 or higher. In this way, Amazing Suppliers can the measure
the fatigue of employees (Walker et al. 2017).
Multi latency test- Multi latency test is a tool of diagnosing sleep disorder. This
particular tool is used in measuring sleep latency that is time elapsed from the start of
nap during day time to the first sign of sleep. The idea that forms the basis of sleep is
that people will asleep faster when they are feeling sleepy. This test is used for making
distinction between excessive day time sleepiness and physical tiredness. This test is
applied in working environment for assessing the readiness of person to fall asleep in a

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conducive setting. Multi latency test helps in measuring the fatigue level of employees
(Hanson 2013).
Cognitive testing methods- Cognitive testing is a psychological testing that
helps in evaluation of functional capacity of an individual employees. This particular
testing relies on measuring performance of tasks for assessing cognitive functioning
and this leads to severity of cognitive impairment establishment. It is the primary way for
establishing severity of cognitive impairment (Dekker et al. 2013).
Employment of all the measures of testing would help organization in evaluating
the impact of the shifting hours on wellbeing and performance of employees.
Discussion of solutions and anticipated challenges:
Solution for all the anticipated challenge faced due to shifting of working hours:
Fatigue- Heavy physical work helps in reducing fatigue among employees.
Warehouse staffs would be working for twenty four hours that will increase chance of
fatigue. Engaging workers in heavy physical work would leads to fatigue reduction (Zink
and Fischer 2013). Organization of physical work should be done or organized in a way
that will help to minimize the fatigue faced by workers.
Sleep disorder-Organization does not have any magic formulae for making
workers fall asleep and one formula might work for one person and might not for
another person. Workers working throughout day and night are provided with some
useful proposals to help them in curbing sleeping problems.
 Reduction of outside noise and light by using dark and heavy curtains, sound
proof doors, air conditioners and windows.
 Making use of individual headphones on radio and televisions and silent
answering phone machines
 Workers should be provided with the option of moving towards the quieter living
areas if the existing living area if nosier.
 Warehouse staffs should be encouraged not to consume alcohol so that they are
able to asleep faster and should give them time to slow down after work.

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Optimizing shifting system- There is not optimal shift timing and the managers
in organization is required to seek the best compromise between needs of workers and
demand of enterprise. The decision of shifting system should be founded on the
scientific recommendations for shift system designing. For the acceptance of new shift
system, one of the factor that is of particular importance is implementation strategy.
Amazing Suppliers should incorporate the guideline for implementing new working
arrangement.
Comparison of normal person and person working for longer hours:
Normal person Person working for longer hours
Normal persons working in organization
does not face any issue of sleep deficit
and fatigue.
Person working for longer hours faces
several health issues such as fatigue and
tiredness. This causes an increased need
for sleep among workers.
Workers working on normal shift timings
does not face health issues relating to
sleep and appetite.
Twenty four hour shift would lead to
change in timing and meal sequence and
there is a high probability that these
workers would suffer from appetite
disturbances (Tillman et al. 2016).
Normal working hours helps in
maintaining efficiency and productivity
level among employees. This helps in
enhancing the performance of
employees.
Workers working for prolonged hours is
associated with lower level of productivity
and efficiency. This ultimately lower the
performance of employees within
organization.
Plan to roll out new working hours for warehouse staffs:
Implementation of procedures for introducing new shifting hours that is working
for twenty four hours would adversely affect the warehouse staffs. The adverse impact
would be in terms of health, performance and productivity of employees. In this regard,
amazing suppliers have to roll out new procedures as a response to negative or
adverse impact on warehouse staffs. Procedures should be regarding the minimizing

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the adverse impact on staffs and increasing productivity by rolling out new working
hours. The roll out of new working procedures should be structured in such a way that
health of workers are not compromised (Thatcher 2013).
It is suggested by growing evidence that twenty four hour working is bad for
health and safety of employees. Fatigue workers are more likely to commit errors and
mistakes that may have serious repercussions on individual employees and
organization as a whole. New working hours should provide guidelines for shift design
and working environment.
Shifting design guidelines:
 Amazing Suppliers should plan an appropriate and varied workload
 Avoiding permanent night shifts by offering warehouse staffs a choice of rotating
or permanent shifts.
 Organization should either adopt a forward rotating shift or either rotating shift
every two to three shifts.
 Workers should be encouraged to take regular breaks and allow them to take
choice when they need it.
 Twenty four hour working should be not on continuous basis and there should be
the adoption of switching between shifts by allowing them two night full sleep.
 Shift schedule should incorporate building of regular free weekends.
 In the extended case, shift timing for warehouse workers and administrative
should be limited to twelve hour shift. This can be extended to extra working
hours when there is increased demand for work.
 Needs of vulnerable workers should be considered such as ageing workers,
expecting mothers and young workers.
Working environmental guidelines:
 Warehouse staffs should be provided with similar facilities as those available
during day time workers such as administrative staffs. Workers should be
provided with the opportunities of training and development and canteen facilities
(Kroemer and Kroemer 2016).

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 Amazing suppliers should ensure that lighting and temperature during night is
preferably adjustable and appropriate.
 Information and training on riskiness of shift work should be provided so that
management and supervisors are able to identify the problems.
 Workers working for prolonger hours including night shift should be provided with
health assessments.
 Organization should ensure that surrounding and workplace is safe, secure and
well monitored.
 During period of low alertness, there should be increased supervision.
Conclusion and Recommendations:
From the analysis of the given case study on Amazing Suppliers that is facing
with the increased demand of their products, is opting for twenty four working for
warehouse staffs. It can be inferred from the analysis of the given case that introduction
of twenty four working would have adverse effect on health and wellbeing of employees.
Working procedures roll out should be designed in such a way that health of workers
are not compromised at any cost as it is the society and organization that would bear
the costs. Introduction of twelve hour working shift for administrative staffs does not
have much impact on their health issues as there would not be disruption in their work
life balance. Adverse impact on employees relating to health issues such as fatigue can
be measured by the implementation of analytical tool and tests such as cognitive testing
and multi-lateral testings. Amazing Suppliers should design their roll out structures in
such a way that health of employees are not compromised.

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