22 Mar Guiding principles for determining work shift duration and addressing the effects of work shift duration on performance, safety, and health
Typically we manage work related fatigue and the risks this causes by having constraints put on work hours. However, this alone is not sufficient to curb the risks to performance, safety, and health caused by misalignment between work schedules and the biological regulation of waking alertness and sleep.
There is a critical need for policies and regulations regarding shift duration to reliably manage risks related to fatigue and sleepiness in the workplace. Scientific evidence that is essential for designing effective shift duration solutions has grown substantially in recent years, and global practices have evolved, providing a foundation for making informed decisions about shift duration while preserving the integrity and feasibility of workplace operations.
Ramar et al. have published an ensemble of guiding principles, with reference to relevant resources and examples to help devise tailored solutions pertaining to shift duration. The article is free access and can be found here: https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.9512
Guiding principle 1.1: The duration of work shifts is linked to adverse performance, safety, and health outcomes, especially when the shifts are not aligned with a worker’s biological clock to promote alertness during work and sleep during time off.
Guiding principle 1.2: Work-related factors, such as workload and commute time, contribute to the impact of shift duration on performance, safety, and health outcomes.
Guiding principle 1.3: Biological, behavioural, and social factors contribute to the impact of shift duration on performance, safety, and health outcomes.
Guiding principle 2.1: Countermeasures can reduce, but do not necessarily eliminate, adverse outcomes associated with shift duration.
Guiding principle 2.2: The development of policies regarding countermeasures and their application should be driven by an evaluation of the risks to be managed.
Guiding principle 2.3: Monitoring the effects of countermeasures is important to determine their effectiveness, identify any unintended consequences, and evaluate opportunities for improvement.
Guiding principle 3.1: Determining maximum shift duration requires stakeholders to balance risk factors, countermeasures, and potentially competing goals.
Guiding principle 3.2: The decision-making process about shift duration should be fully informed, transparent, and based on scientific evidence.
Guiding principle 3.3: The decision-making process about shift duration should faithfully represent the interests of all stakeholders and respect the legitimacy of these interests.
Guiding principle 3.4: Deliberations, policies, and documentation regarding shift duration should be supported by an organization’s safety management architecture.
Guiding principle 3.5: Changes to rules and policies on shift duration should be monitored and evaluated, and corrective action should be taken in the event of unintended outcomes.
CITATION:
Ramar K, Malhotra RK, Carden KA, et al. Sleep is essential to health: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(10):2115–2119