Changing the speed of shift rotation: a field study

Abstract

A group of 33 controllers of an emergency service were studied before and after a change in shift roster. The original roster was the traditional weekly rotating type of three shifts, morning, afternoon and night in that direction, in which controllers worked seven consecutive shifts of the same type. This was changed to a rapidly rotating roster of shifts with no more than three consecutive night shifts. The direction of shift change remained the same. Sleep and meal diaries were kept by all controllers for 2 weeks before the roster change. Self-report measures were taken of health, social drug consumption and work variables, an anxiety inventory, the State-Train Anxiety Inventory and the Work Environment Scale were administered both before and 5 months after the roster change. Significant improvements were found after the shift roster change on almost all measures with the exception of self-reported nervousness and loss of appetite and a number of items in the Work Environment Scale. This finding provides some evidence from the field for the argument that rapidly rotating shifts may be the optimal form of shift system.

Keywords:

• Shiftwork
• Circadian rhythms
• Occupational Health
• Stress