Regular working shift has the best effect in smooth operation and keep ordinary health of the employees.

Irregular shift workers and health

I always been aware that regular working shift has the best effect in smooth operation and keep ordinary health of the employees. Due to lack of labour power or due to decision by management, Employers are usually trying to bring in and put in force night shift, early shift or swing shift or any other shift.

So my exploring here is what types of ill health that can bring to the irregular shift workers?

If someone not get enough sleep is there is any danger, first of all give me chance for bring me up doctor say. Doctors are describing sleep as a natural state of bodily rest observed in humans and other animals. Regular sleep is essential for survival. Scientific research has found that who do not sleep well and workers who had night shift or irregular shift can give short term or long term problem

Short term will be:

·         Sleep disruption

·         Stress

·         Fatigue

·         Irritability

Long term will be:

·         Loos appetite

·         gastrointestinal disorders

·         heartburn

·         stomach pains

·         peptic ulcers

·         constipation

·         flatulence

Doctors say that above are caused by changes in central nervous system & endocrine mechanisms. (Meal time change causation).

Is there is more diabetes threat? Yes, it’s possibly can caused by irregular food intake and timing of medication.

What about epilepsy? Yes, possibly caused by sleep deprivation increasing the chance of a seizure. Also Coronary heart disease.In additional mortality can too effect but I couldn’t find more articles with comparison data about it. But I cannot say definite no. What about Psychiatric Disorders, shift workers have more it’s sure. If can do a research we can find that shift workers has more married brake down the reason is domestic life is partially liable to any one if someone not spending the time with family what relationship can build? Shift workers are always face Social isolation from family & friends, social isolation and divorce is detrimental to health.

For alleviating those problem for the shift workers employer can Plan the shifts to avoid abrupt changes in routine and plan the eating arrangements to give the minimum disruption in routine food intake.

it’s advisable for better to have a day(s) off between days and night shifts, or can they follow on so that you can more days off together?’ and ‘is a pattern that goes Early shifts, then late shifts, then night shifts better than Nights, Lates, Earlies.?’also employees are can find and witch shift pattern suitable for them health wise.

When a body is hungry it goes into mood swings, growls and howls, when it is thirsty, it affects the electric circuits we are dehydrate by breathing out moisture, urinating and exercise. Dehydration causes many problems to health like constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nose bleeds, repeated urinary tract infections, dry and unproductive coughs, constant sneezing, sinus pressure and headaches etc.

Do you have seen more vehicle accident happen in the night? Employer must see the mistakes that people make all the time like, car accidents, accidents in the home, wrong decisions, arguments between spouses, friends, and workmates. Many of theses are caused by lack of sleep and dietary effects. Personally I can say when some time I am doing my job as a rescuer if I did not had a good sleep or if I in the jump shift when doing (Monitoring the Swimmers or jay walkers) I know I am watching, I know I am still ‘awake’ that’s mean as I know what is going on, but I am also asleep. Its and danger for my job hence I couldn’t do observation and supervision correctly. If we know what the brain need we can restore brain 100% functionality. Brain needs sleep.

Sleep deprivation is hallucination, the inability to distinguish between imagination and reality. To the person concerned it is real either way. The difference between an hallucination and a dream, is the person hallucinating is awake and the person dreaming is asleep

Let’s think wisely and try to mange a roster in regular shift. It’s very easy to make a roster on a paper but it’s very hard to managing good health of the employee for reduce the annual turnover of company that have to spend behalf of sick, tired and leaving workers.

Palitha Ariyarathna

Rescuer and Deep Sea Diver