Linking better shiftwork arrangements with safety and health management systems

Abstract

Descritores Trabalho em turnos. Trabalho noturno. Condições de trabalho. Saúde ocupacional. Medidas de segurança. Ergonomia (saúde ambiental). Medição de risco. Abstract ObjectivesVarious support measures useful for promoting joint change approaches to the improvement of both shiftworking arrangements and safety and health management systems were reviewed. A particular focus was placed on enterprise-level risk reduction measures linking working hours and management systems. Methods Voluntary industry-based guidelines on night and shift work for department stores and the chemical, automobile and electrical equipment industries were examined. Survey results that had led to the compilation of practicable measures to be included in these guidelines were also examined. The common support measures were then compared with ergonomic checkpoints for plant maintenance work involving irregular nightshifts. On the basis of this analysis, a new night and shift work checklist was designed. Results Both the guidelines and the plant maintenance work checkpoints were found to commonly cover multiple issues including work schedules and various job-related risks. This close link between shiftwork arrangements and risk management was important as shiftworkers in these industries considered teamwork and welfare services to be essential for managing risks associated with night and shift work. Four areas found suitable for participatory improvement by managers and workers were work schedules, ergonomic work tasks, work environment and training. The checklist designed to facilitate participatory change processes covered all these areas. ConclusionsThe checklist developed to describe feasible workplace actions was suitable for integration with comprehensive safety and health management systems and offered valuable opportunities for improving working time arrangements and job content together. Resumo ObjetivosForam revisados diversas medidas de apoio úteis para incentivar abordagens conjuntas para a melhoria na organização do trabalho por turnos e os processos de gestão de saúde e segurança. As medidas para redução de risco em nível empresarial que associam horas de trabalho e processos de gestão receberam um enfoque particular.

International Research Needs for Improving Sleep and Health of Workers

“…The complex intervening variables that potentially affect the strains due to irregular working time arrangements and associated sleep disturbances are also examined extensively by various review papers. As such variables, job-related factors other than working time arrangements, environmental conditions, family and social life conditions and individual characteristics are mentioned 2,18,20,23,24) . More recently, a number of studies point out the need to take into account the wide-ranging factors that can affect tolerance to shift and night work [23][24][25] .…”

“…Awareness is growing internationally about the need to study how to improve working time arrangements and prevent serious sleep disorders [1][2][3] . This awareness is supported by the recognition that health problems associated with shift work and long hours of work are mediated by a range of intervening factors the effects of which can be controlled by various interventions 4,5) .…”

“…Research efforts in these aspects are accelerated by the exchanges through international study groups and scientific meetings such as international symposia on night and shift work [6][7][8] . The role of research is increasing likewise in identifying effective approaches to the improvement of safety and health conditions of shift workers and those at risk due to excessive work and life stress 2,9) . There is an increasing amount of evidence that both improved working time arrangements and better sleep hygiene have significant effects on the health of workers working irregular shifts 10,11) .…”

“…The knowledge that the health of these workers may improve when effective interventions are taken in this regard is giving a new impetus to field research undertaken in relation to irregular shifts and work stress. The need for intensive research is particularly notable in clarifying effective interventions 2,12,13) . Individual differences in the health effects of different working time arrangements are found to reflect tolerance to night and shift work and to stressful situations.…”

“…This has significant implications for managing shift work and other working time systems and for planning health measures at work. Obviously, multiple means are required to facilitate the implementation of these measures 2,7,16,17) . It is necessary to know the types of approaches that are effective in supporting the identification of these practical means.…”