FH Shiftwork - The Pros & Cons
Some things worth considering before you take the plunge
Shiftwork is:
- Work which is outside normal hours
- Work which breaks routine of sleeping at night
- Going to work at different times of the day
- Presents different times to try and relax and do your normal non-work activities
Why have shiftwork?
- If it weren’t for shiftworkers these parts of society wouldn’t function: Hospitals, Fire services, Police, Travel and Entertainment.
- Some shiftwork is introduced in order to use plant and machinery more intensively and productively.
What shiftworkers say about it:
- "I like to have time off in the middle of the week - it suits my lifestyle."
- "It wrecked my social life - I can never be sure I will be able to be there."
- "The family has to work around my shift roster. Sometimes I never get to see the kids."
- "I have had to give up my bowls."
- "After a few nights I am not fit to live with…"
- "It breaks my sleep patterns and is like constant jetlag."
- "I get more days off this way so I can go fishing."
- "Meals at odd time have done terrible things to my digestion."
- "I make more mistakes and have more accidents on night shift."
Shiftwork increases Stress
Almost all studies show that shiftwork increases stress
- Setting alarm clocks for odd hours
- Worry about leaving home or family unattended.
- Concern about travelling at night.
Shiftwork increases Fatigue
Almost all shiftworkers complain of tiredness
- Difficulty in getting enough sleep
- Sleep is often disturbed
HOWEVER if you are to work shifts you might consider the following 3 matters….
1. Not all Shiftwork rosters are the same
- There are 6hr, 8hr, and 12hr shifts
- There are fast, slow rotating rosters
- There are forward and backward rotating rosters
- There are permanent shifts
Quite a lot of work has been done in this field and it has been shown that some shiftwork patterns are markedly better than others….
2. Things your employer can do
- Provide childcare facilities
- Supply meals
- Arrange regular rest periods
- Frequent changes from repetitive tasks.
- Consider safety aspects
- Reduce heat and noise.
- Light airy work environment.
3. Things you can do
- Avoid caffeine products before sleep time.
- Take the phone off the hook.
- Have a cool, dark, sound proof room to sleep in.
- Get sufficient exercise.
- Make sure you get healthy meals.
- Deliberately plan time out.
- Take note of your own body clock.
TAKE NOTE that:
- Most young people are able to adapt to shiftwork.
- The older you are, the less able you may be able to change your own internal timetable.
- Some find that they are not able to continue and may have to find another job for the sake of their health.
Research shows that:
- Workers participate in the process of deciding the roster.
- Breaks in the work are feasible.
- The work itself is interesting.
- The workers are highly motivated.
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