An experimental change of the speed of rotation of the morning and evening shift

Abstract

Eighty-five Dutch railway traffic controllers were studied before and after a change in their continuous shift schedule. The original schedule was slowly rotating, while the experimental schedule had a moderately rapid rotating morning and evening shift, but a slowly rotating night shift. Before and 6 months after the change, questionnaires and a diary were filled in. A decrease in sleep complaints and weekly workload was found. No reduction in the amount of complaints regarding leisure time in the evening was registered; only an increase in satisfaction with leisure time in the evening.

Keywords:

• Shiftwork
• Rapid shift rotation