Reducing Risks to Women Linked to Shift Work, Long Work Hours, and Related Workplace Sleep and Fatigue Issues

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Shift work and long work hours affect a substantial portion of the US working female population.
• These work schedules are linked to numerous health issues such as obesity, injuries, reproductive problems, and chronic diseases.
• Beyond individual health, demanding work schedules can strain relationships and negatively impact employers and the wider community due to worker fatigue and errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the widespread nature of shift work and long work hours in the United States.
• To outline the multifaceted health, safety, and social risks associated with these work schedules.
• To present the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) role in mitigating these risks.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing data on the prevalence of shift work and long work hours.
• Analysis of the documented health and safety consequences for workers, families, employers, and the community.
• Description of NIOSH's research, guidance development, and information dissemination strategies.

Main Results:

• A significant percentage of working women in the US are engaged in shift work or work more than 48 hours per week.
• Identified risks include obesity, injuries, reproductive issues, chronic diseases, relationship strain, and increased potential for errors leading to accidents.
• NIOSH actively researches and provides resources to address these occupational hazards.

Conclusions:

• Shift work and long hours present considerable risks that necessitate proactive management.
• Making sleep a priority for both employers' work organization and employees' personal lives is a key strategy for risk reduction.
• NIOSH offers accessible online training programs to help workers and managers cope with these workplace challenges.