Performance and alertness on 8 h and 12 h rotating shifts at a natural gas utility.
An 8 h/5-7 day shift schedule was compared with a newly instituted 12 h/2-4 day schedule in this, our second worksite study of extended workshifts. Workers completed a performance/alertness test battery, and a questionnaire on sleep patterns and other personal habits, 2-4 times a week on all shifts. After 10 months adaptation to the 12 h shift schedule, there were decrements in performance/alertness attributable to the extra 4 h on the extended shift. There were also reductions in sleep across the workweek which were most apparent on 12 h night shifts. The results are consistent with our first worksite study of 12 h shifts and indicate extra caution should be exercised when scheduling critical activities for extended workshifts, especially extended night shifts.
Rosa
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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science, Cincinnati, OH 45226.
Bonnet
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MH
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001288:Attention; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance
D005579:Fossil Fuels