The Sleep of Shift Workers in a Remote Mining Operation: Methodology for a Randomized Control Trial to Determine Evidence-Based Interventions

Abstract

Shiftwork may adversely impact an individual’s sleep-wake patterns and result in sleep loss (<6 h. following night shift), due to the circadian misalignment and the design of rosters and shifts. Within a mining operation, this sleep loss may have significant consequences due to fatigue, including an increased risk of accidents and chronic health conditions. This study aims to (i) determine the efficacy of an intervention that comprises a sleep education program and biofeedback through a smartphone app on sleep quality, quantity, and alertness (ii) determine the prevalence of risk for a potential sleep disorder, and (iii) quantify and describe the sleep habits and behaviors of shift workers in a remote mining operation. This study consists of a randomized controlled trial whereby eighty-eight shift workers within a remote mining operation are randomized to a control group or one of three different treatment groups that are: (i) a sleep education program, (ii) biofeedback on sleep through a smartphone app, or (iii) a sleep education program and biofeedback on sleep through a smartphone app. This study utilizes wrist-activity monitors, biomathematical modeling, and a survey instrument to obtain data on sleep quantity, quality, and alertness. A variety of statistical methods will determine the prevalence of risk for a potential sleep disorder and associations with body mass index, alcohol, and caffeine consumption. A generalized linear mixed model will examine the dependent sleep variables assessed at baseline and post-intervention for the control group and intervention groups, as well as within and between groups to determine changes. The findings from this study will contribute to the current understanding of sleep and alertness behaviors, and sleep problems and disorders amongst shift workers. Importantly, the results may inform fatigue policy and practice on interventions to manage fatigue risk within the mining industry. This study protocol may have a broader application in other shiftwork industries, including oil and gas, aviation, rail, and healthcare.

Does work shift affect workers' sleep quality? a systematic review

“…The industrial work environment requires workers to meet multiple demands within a 24-hour period. Today, industries operate 365 days a year with no weekends or holidays off, so employees must be organized into shifts to meet the needs of the business (MAISEY et al, 2021). These organizational strategies are important to keep things running smoothly and to meet goals.…”

“…These organizational strategies are important to keep things running smoothly and to meet goals. In this sense, the work shifts that exist in industries with the largest number of employees are day shifts (e.g., 06:00-14:00), afternoon shifts (e.g., 14:00-23:00), and night/midnight shifts (e.g., 23:00-06:00) (MAISEY et al, 2021). However, night/midnight workers can be classified together with workers on rotating schedules (a mixture of day and night shifts) and long shifts (long working hours) and are recognized as shift workers in some studies (COSTA, 2016;STIELER, HUNGER, SEIBT, 2022;VIDYA et al, 2019;ZHOU et al, 2022).…”

“…As a result, they experience changes in their circadian rhythms, as they are forced to modify their sleep-wake patterns by sleeping during the day or not having a specific sleep schedule (MAISEY et al, 2021). As a result, the quality of sleep may be compromised and may negatively affect occupational health with the presence of fatigue, sleepiness, anxiety, depression and stress (MCNAMARA, ROBBINS, 2023;SATHVIK, KRISHNARAJ, IRFAN, 2022).…”

“…Sleeping more than 9 hours is also associated with health risks, although it is appropriate for young adults and people with sleep disorders or illnesses (WATSON et al, 2015). From this perspective, shift workers may not get the recommended amount of sleep because of external factors (room temperature, light and noise) or because of their work routine (long working hours and worries about workload), which influences an imbalance in the circadian cycle (DAVY, 2014;MAISEY et al, 2021;SETIA et al, 2019).…”

Fatigue Risk Management Systems Diagnostic Tool: Validation of an Organizational Assessment Tool for Shift Work Organizations

“…Shift workers are such an ‘ at-risk ’ group as they are required to modify their sleep-wake patterns to align with their roster schedule and work long hours [ 4 ], which may result in acute sleep loss across a roster schedule (< 7 hours sleep per day/night) [ 5 ]. This may result in what is commonly referred to as fatigue, defined as the “ result of sleep loss (<7 hours) and/or being awake during an adverse circadian phase, thereby potentially affecting alertness” [ 6 ]. The injury rates for shift workers have been reported as over double that of non-shift workers [ 7 ].…”