The association between the use of shift schedule evaluation tool with ergonomics recommendations and occupational injuries: A 4-year prospective cohort study among healthcare workers

Abstract

Previous studies have found that fatigue and impaired sleep quality are associated with occupational injuries, and working hour characteristics and recovery are associated with fatigue and occupational injuries. The current study showed that the use of the shift schedule evaluation tool with ergonomics recommendations was associated with reduced risk of some occupational injuries. The association was mediated through longer recovery periods. Integrating ergonomics recommendations for shift scheduling closely into the shift scheduling process itself might be a way to reduce the risk of occupational injuries.

The important factors nurses consider when choosing shift patterns: A cross‐sectional study

“…To support ward managers in creating rosters that are safer for nurses, modern rostering technology could be used to develop ergonomic rotas while also balancing ward coverage, staffing numbers and patient demand. Previous research has demonstrated benefits for health care workers when embedding ergonomic shift work recommendations in rostering software, particularly in terms of reducing adverse working patterns, sleep difficulties and occupational injury (Härmä et al., 2022; Karhula et al., 2021; Shiri & Härmä, 2023), but outcomes related to work‐life balance are less understood. Moreover, nurses may still prefer to work more difficult shift patterns when given the choice (Karhula et al., 2018, 2020), but in these cases, risk could still be mitigated thereafter (e.g.…”

“…injury(Härmä et al, 2022;Karhula et al, 2021;Shiri & Härmä, 2023), but outcomes related to work-life balance are less understood.Moreover, nurses may still prefer to work more difficult shift patterns when given the choice(Karhula et al, 2018(Karhula et al, , 2020, but in these cases, risk could still be mitigated thereafter (e.g. if a nurse prefers to work long shifts only, limit the number of long shifts that are worked in a row).…”

Working hours and health – key research topics in the past and future

“…Other recent methodological developments in working hours and health research include experimental stepped-wedge pseudo-randomized trials and the use of the observational propensity score method, where data from large cohorts are clustered or matched in a way that mimics randomization ( 26 , 38 , 39 ). Some recent studies have employed case–crossover designs, which are essentially within-participant variations of case–control studies.…”

“…One of the consequences of the sleep restriction, fatigue and sleepiness that are associated with night and shift work is the increased risk of occupational injuries. Several studies published in this Journal have observed increased risk of injuries during night work ( 22 – 26 ) and on work days following night shifts ( 27 ). Similarly, several studies have found elevated risk of occupational injuries on evening shifts ( 22 , 25 , 27 ), suggesting that other work shift-related differences, like higher individual work load in addition to sleep restriction, may contribute to the increased injury risk.…”

“…The negative consequences of fatigue due to quick returns have been highlighted in several recent studies showing that injury risk increased following these short inter-shift intervals ( 27 – 29 ). Further support for the link between shift schedule design and injuries was found in an intervention study that compared users and non-users of a shift scheduling tool that provided scheduling recommendations ( 26 ). The group that used the tool obtained longer recovery periods (eg, less quick returns, more single days off) and there was a reduction in the incidence of occupational injuries.…”