A shift in the right direction
This article supports "A shift in safety", published on page nine of the October 2012 issue of RCN Bulletin
As the RCN guidance, A Shift in the Right Direction, is published, Robert Moore, Chair of the UK Safety Representatives Committee, said the diversity of work and workplaces across the RCN membership means that there is no single optimal shift system that suits everyone.
“But this should not result in complacency,” he warns. “Shift work in its design, implementation and its associated health and safety risks needs to be carefully managed.”
The World Health Organization (2010) states that employers have a moral, legal and business requirement to ensure a healthy workplace. It is “one in which workers and managers collaborate to protect and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of all workers and the sustainability of the workplace… the healthy workplace principle is one that actively promotes health and not just prevents ill health and reduces sickness absence”.
Why is this important?
- Reducing the risks associated with shift work and fatigue can improve the health and safety of workers and may also financially benefit business and society in general by reducing sickness, injuries and accidents, and by increasing work efficiency and product quality.
- The legal duty is on employers to manage risks from fatigue, irrespective of any individual’s willingness to work extra hours or preference for certain shift patterns for social reasons.
- A poor balance between the demands of work and the time provided for rest and recovery, resulting, for example, from poorly designed shift-work schedules and long working hours is likely to result in chronic fatigue.
- Sleepiness is thought to be the cause of up to one in five accidents on major roads in the UK, contributing significantly to the approximate 3,000 road deaths recorded annually.
- The Working Time Regulations include a right for night workers to receive free health assessments.
- Frequent overtime and long hours at work can increase the risk of accidents. After 12 hours, the risk approximately doubles and after 16 hours, it trebles.
Read A shift in the right direcion (PDF 728KB) [see how to access PDF files].
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