Shift work is nothing new and has become common in industry with the advent of the age of steam. Its main consequence is the disruption of the circadian rhythm, which leads to physiological disorders. In addition, people who work at night very often develop bad habits. Lack of sleep in the long term can lead to the development of disease states.

Shift work is when employees change in the same positions according to a certain time pattern. As a rule, the changes include the usual hourly morning-afternoon, early morning, late evening and night. Shift work also includes the so-called 12- or even 24-hour shifts.

In the course of physiological processes and behavioral functions, regularity is noticeable, cyclicality, which is conditioned by changes in lighting resulting from successive seasons of day and night. People who work at night are more likely to suffer from insomnia and mental disorders than employees working in an 8-hour, one-shift mode.

Shift work changes many behaviors in everyday life, especially eating habits, sleep patterns, level of physical activity and the frequency of reaching for stimulants. Shift workers eat irregularly and are more likely to reach for poorer quality and highly processed foods. Although total energy intake is similar, it is noted that shift workers consume more hydrocarbons, which is due to snacking between meals. They tend to eat a few small meals throughout the waking period. It is not a natural state for the night phase, there is an impairment of glucose tolerance and problems with normal body weight. Studies show that extending the weekly working time to over 48 hours is associated with increased alcohol consumption compared to people working in a standard 35-40-hour system. Shift workers are more likely to reach for cigarettes and lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Ensuring special protection for shift workers is extremely important, because according to Eurofound in its report on the study of working conditions in the European Community countries in the years 2005-2015, as many as 32% of employees have a working day longer than 10 hours, 16% perform work for more than 48 hours a week, while shift work is performed by as many as 21% of employees and over 19% of the total work at night. In the shift work system, men predominate, who make up 55%. Among them, 43% are aged 25-39 and 37% are aged 40-54.

Shift work has existed for centuries and it is difficult to imagine even their limitation. Poor sleep quality and insomnia can affect the deterioration of health and chronic diseases, as well as an increase in the accident factor in the workplace. There are many ways to reduce the health effects of shift work, which include good quality sleep, leading a healthy lifestyle through physical activity and rational nutrition, ensuring good working conditions by the employer (social rooms, appropriate work schedules, good lighting at the workplace). The quality and comfort of work translate into mental health as well as the ability to cope with the consequences of an irregular work schedule.

Source: CIOP and PIB materials

Source: https://www.seka.pl/skutki-pracy-zmianowej-i-ich-ograniczanie/

Projekt otrzymał dofinansowanie z Norwegii poprzez Fundusze Norweskie 2014-2021, w ramach programu „Dialog społeczny – godna praca”.