The impact of overtime and long work hours on occupational injuries and illnesses: new evidence from the United States

Abstract

(NLSY) were used to evaluate workers' job histories, work schedules, and occurrence of occupational injury and illness between 1987 and 2000. A total of 110 236 job records were analysed, encompassing 89 729 person-years of accumulated working time. Aggregated incidence rates in each of five exposure categories were calculated for each NLSY survey period. Multivariate analytical techniques were used to estimate the relative risk of long working hours per day, extended hours per week, long commute times, and overtime schedules on reporting a work related injury or illness, after adjusting for age, gender, occupation, industry, and region. Results: After adjusting for those factors, working in jobs with overtime schedules was associated with a 61% higher injury hazard rate compared to jobs without overtime. Working at least 12 hours per day was associated with a 37% increased hazard rate and working at least 60 hours per week was associated with a 23% increased hazard rate. A strong dose-response effect was observed, with the injury rate (per 100 accumulated worker-years in a particular schedule) increasing in correspondence to the number of hours per day (or per week) in the workers' customary schedule. Conclusions: Results suggest that job schedules with long working hours are not more risky merely because they are concentrated in inherently hazardous industries or occupations, or because people working long hours spend more total time ''at risk'' for a work injury. Strategies to prevent work injuries should consider changes in scheduling practices, job redesign, and health protection programmes for people working in jobs involving overtime and extended hours.

Psychosocial and Ergonomics Risk Factors Related to Neck, Shoulder and Back Complaints among Malaysia Office Workers

“…Further, it was reported in another study that working in jobs with overtime schedules put workers at higher injury hazard rate compare to jobs without overtime [33]. Our study also found that decision latitude was the risk factor for shoulder and back complaints among computer users.…”

A gender approach to work ability and its relationship to professional and domestic work hours among nursing personnel

“…These results show an important characteristic of the current working arrangements in Brazilian hospitals: The lack of consecutive working days allows time for engaging in a second job. The outcome of these arrangements is that a potential risk of exposure to 'total' working hours is not considered (Dembe et al, 2005).…”

Identifying Key Workplace Stressors Affecting Twentieth Air Force: Analyses Conducted from December 2012 Through February 2013

“…Long working hours (e.g., shifts lasting longer than 12 hours without adequate breaks or naps or shifts that total to more than 48 hours a week) have been shown to increase injury rates and recovery times (Dembe et al, 2005) and medical errors among doctors (e.g., Barger et al, 2006). However, some individuals tolerate shift work better than other people, showing less fatigue and fewer attention deficits.…”

“…A number of studies have found that work hours and shift work are key drivers of mistakes in the workplace. Studies have shown relationships between long working hours and increased risk of occupational injuries for a variety of jobs, including construction workers, nurses, miners, truck drivers, firefighters, and nuclear power plant workers (Dembe et al, 2005). Fatigue and exhaustion can also impact safety among shift worker populations.…”

“…The number of monthly shifts that are of extended duration has been shown to be related to increases in the number of reported medical errors, preventable adverse events, and attentionrelated mistakes (Barger et al, 2006). Overtime schedules and 12-hour shifts are found to have strong relationships with occupational injury or illness (Dembe et al, 2005). Shift work that takes place at night is shown to be related to greater levels of fatigue, which then lead to increased rates of mistakes and accidents (Della Rocco, Cruz, and Clemens, 1999).…”