Shiftwork safety

There has been a well understood requirement to undertake risk assessments for all work activities. Managers must ensure that their risk assessments are undertaken in accordance with the council’s arrangement detailed in MA37 Risk Assessment.

Shiftwork is recognised as having the potential to lead to health and safety concerns and so it is important to recognise that a planned and systematic approach to assessing and managing the risks associated with shift work is needed.

Reducing the problems associated with shift work may also bring a range of benefits beyond simple legal compliance, this includes:

• Lowering sickness and absenteeism
• Decreasing lost-time incidents
• Reducing the risk of fatigue-related accidents
• Reducing the likelihood of compensation claims
• Increasing work efficiency
• Improving product quality
• Reducing staff turnover

Hazards associated with Shift Work

When undertaking risk assessments involving shift workers, consideration must be given to a number of factors as these can all influence such things as the ability to concentrate, communicate and alertness. The factors include:

• Disruption of the internal body clock (circadian rhythms)
• Sleep disturbance/loss
• Fatigue
• Health Effects
• Work life balance

Individual Susceptibility

While all team members are potentially at risk from shift work, you should consider certain groups who are more vulnerable than others. These include:

• Young workers
• Older workers
• New and expectant mothers
• Workers with pre-existent health conditions, which may be made worse by shift work, such as those with gastro-intestinal problems, coronary heart disease and sleeping problems
• Workers taking time-dependant medication such as insulin

Legislation may prohibit working at certain times of the day for some of the groups mentioned above. In addition, there is a requirement to esnure medical reviews for those that regularily work at night. For more information on the arrangements made to minimise the influence of shiftwork on the safety of those working for the council refer to MA40 – Shiftwork Safety