Methodological and practical issues related to shiftwork research.

Colligan-MJ

NIOSH 1981 Jul; :261-267

00169079

Methods for the evaluation and implementation of cross sectional shiftwork (SW) research were presented. The data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that in May 1975 approximately 26.8 percent of the American workforce was in some type of shift system. The shiftworker was defined as a person who began working at a time other than between 7:00 and 9:00 AM. The information was insufficient to characterize industries by types and distribution of SW. When in addition to changeable work hours consideration was also given to the days of week, a new set of problems arose. Studies on health aspects of SW were inconclusive. A need for a greater concern about the effect of SW on health was expressed. A high rate of absence from work might be more a function of preexisting health status than shift assignment. In performing a retrospective record study, it was important to include terminated workers. There was no information about the effect of SW on female workers or multiple shiftworker families. The author states that the impact of SW on individual adjustment and domestic stability needs to be established.

NIOSH-Author; Men; Women; Shift-work; Health-hazards; Health-protection; Workplace-studies; Absenteeism; Psychological-stress

19810701

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

1981

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-127

DBBS

Special Populations; Work Environment and Workforce

The Twenty-Four Hour Workday: Proceedings of a Symposium on Variations in Work-Sleep Schedules, Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-127

OH