Swing shift hours free#
Such free running cycles, which include body temperature, respiratory rate, urinary excretion, cell division, and hormone production, can be modulated by exogenous factors such as light-dark cycle, social climate, and of course, work schedules.įor example, under normal living conditions, body temperature peaks in the late afternoon with its lowest point occurring in the early hours of the morning. Mammals have a natural rhythmicity to many bodily functions and these circadian rhythms exist in humans, with many operating on a 25 hour cycle.
One of the most important physiological problems associated with shift work and the night shift in particular, is that working, eating, and sleeping phases are changed. 1-4īiological and social aspects CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS Some recent reviews have also highlighted the current state of knowledge in this area. Nevertheless, some excellent studies have provided the basis for what follows in this article. Finally, some of the outcome measures in studies of shift work involve relatively “soft” measures such as fatigue, mood, and performance. Many of the studies published are cross sectional, as there are difficulties in selecting appropriate comparison populations for longitudinal studies. The most obvious is the fact that a large proportion of shift workers are a self selected population and those that remain shift workers for years are a survivor population. There are considerable methodological issues concerned with this subject. The quality of the papers does not always match the quantity. There are extensive publications on the health and social effects of shift work.
E-commerce will lead to the need for 24 hour services for most retail and service organisations.
Technical need for maintaining continuous process industriesĮconomic need for offsetting plant obsolescence.Īlthough the shift worker of 50 years ago was likely to be factory based, increasing demand for services, both business and pleasure, has extended to those employed in more traditionally “white collar” occupations. Society's needs for services and emergency cover