Extended workdays: Effects of 8-hour and 12-hour rotating shift schedules on test performance, subjective alertness, sleep patterns, and psychological variables
A newly instituted 3 to 4 day/12-hr rotating shift schedule was compared to the previous 5 to 7 day/8-hr schedule using standard laboratory-type measures of performance and alertness, and a questionnaire on sleep patterns and other personal habits. After seven months adaptation to the new schedule, a preliminary analysis indicates that there were some decrements in alertness, reductions in sleep, and disruptions of other personal activities during 12-hr workdays. Gastro-intestinal state improved during night shift, however, and increases in self-reported stress were reduced by the shortened workweek. These results are discussed in terms of trade-offs between longer workdays and shorter workweeks. It is emphasized that at this time no determination can be made of the extent of risk associated with these changes in alertness.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA); National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Div. of Biomedical and Behavioral Science
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6937426
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA-14094; CONF-8609105-7; ON: DE87003173
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Annual meeting of the Human Factors Society, Dayton, OH, USA, 30 Sep 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
PERSONNEL
WORKING CONDITIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DAILY VARIATIONS
HUMAN FACTORS
NIOSH
SLEEP
WORKING DAYS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
US ORGANIZATIONS
VARIATIONS
550100* - Behavioral Biology
570000 - Health & Safety