Guiding principles for determining work shift duration and addressing the effects of work shift duration on performance, safety, and health
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Authors
Gurubhagavatula, Indira
Barger, Laura K.
Barnes, Christopher M.
Basner, Mathias
Boivin, Diane B.
Dawson, Drew
Drake, Christopher L.
Flynn-Evans, Erin E.
Mysliwiec, Vincent
Patterson, P. Daniel
Subjects
working time arrangements
shift scheduling
mental fatigue
sleepiness
alertness
productivity
circadian rhythms
sleep homeostasis
occupational medicine
policy making
shift scheduling
mental fatigue
sleepiness
alertness
productivity
circadian rhythms
sleep homeostasis
occupational medicine
policy making
Advisors
Date of Issue
2021
Date
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Language
Abstract
Risks associated with fatigue that accumulates during work shifts have historically been managed through working time arrangements that specify fixed maximum durations of work shifts and minimum durations of time off. By themselves, such arrangements are not sufficient to curb risks to performance, safety, and health caused by misalignment between work schedules and the biological regulation of waking alertness and sleep. Science-based approaches for determining shift duration and mitigating associated risks, while addressing operational needs, require: 1) a recognition of the factors contributing to fatigue and fatigue-related risks; 2) an understanding of evidence-based countermeasures that may reduce fatigue and/or fatigue-related risks; and 3) an informed approach to selecting workplace-specific strategies for managing work hours. We propose a series of guiding principles to assist stakeholders with designing a shift duration decision-making process that effectively balances the need to meet operational demands with the need to manage fatigue-related risks.
Type
Preprint
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsab161
Series/Report No
Department
Operations Research (OR)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)
Sleep Research Society
Sleep Research Society
Funder
Format
90 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.