Evidence
Suggests Shift Changes Influence Health, Work-Life
Balance
[Posted 04/11/2008]
According to a new review of evidence,
forward-rotating shifts that follow the logical
order of the day seem to be less damaging to health
and easier on the body. (A forward rotation would be
a shift in the morning, then the afternoon and then
maybe a night shift later.) The systematic review,
which examines the influence of company and
organizational-level changes on the health and
well-being of shift workers, appears in the May
issue of the American Journal of Preventive
Medicine.
The
review also found that rotating workers through
shift changes more quickly — perhaps every three or
four days versus every seven days — is better for
health and work-life balance. Similar benefits were
seen when employees were given more control over
their schedules.
Alec
Davidson, who studies circadian rhythms in animals,
said the study of health promotion among shift
workers is in very early stages. The review finding
on the less harmful effects of forward-rotating
shifts mirrors Davidson's laboratory research, but
he wants to see human studies with much longer
follow-up to understand bigger and longer-lasting
health outcomes.
Related Links:
OHSOnline Article
systoc.com News Article from 12/27/07
Occupational Health Tracker Article from Autumn 2004
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