WHICH ROSTER PATTERN
IS IDEAL FOR ALERTNESS?
Rest and sleep are fundamental to a worker’s ability
to function normally and carry out tasks efficiently
and safely. There is also a strong relationship
between sleep and physical health and mental
wellbeing. And shift work and rotating rosters are
known to interfere with sleep patterns and impair
cognitive function. In fact, it’s believed that working
night shift reduces average sleep by around 2 hours
in any 24-hour period.
But now, researchers have identified a roster
pattern that does not affect the alertness of
workers.
The University of Leeds’ Institute for Transport
Studies monitored 23 police officers and staff on a
10-day forward rotating shift pattern. The pattern
involved two morning, two afternoon, and two night
shifts (between 8-10 hours each) followed by four
days off.
Researchers found that the participants didn’t
experience any significant sleep loss or impaired
cognitive skills. They found the participants were
able to perform cognitive and vigilance tests to a
satisfactory standard at any time during their shift
schedule. As to why this particular pattern is so
effective? It’s believed the fast rotating nature of
the pattern doesn’t allow workers to adjust to any
particular shift.
“Many individuals, such as police and other
emergency service personnel, work at night, and
are thus required to function when alertness,
vigilance and cognitive reasoning are at their
lowest,” researchers say.
The study also referenced existing research that
has shown rotating shift patterns cause more
sleep related problems than fixed shifts, due to the
misalignment of circadian phases.
“For example, self-reporting questionnaire studies
of hospital-based nurses, showed that, when
compared to day shift nurses, those working
rotating shifts had more sleep disruption and were
more prone to ‘nodding off’ at work.
“This group of nurses were also more likely to nod
off whilst driving home or be involved in reportable
vehicle collisions and errors associated with
sleepiness.”
The researchers say their findings will have
important implications for all working populations
with rotating work patterns.
REN168
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