tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:38:04 +000024/7shiftworkercircadianshiftworksleep apneaovertimeresearchalertnessfirefightersschedulesjet laglightshiftworker tipsfatigue countermeasuresnight shift12-hour shiftspolicesafetyhuman factorsnappinghuman resourcessleeprotationcaffeinenight workerrotahours of servicedrowsy drivinghealthcarerailroadperformanceproductivityseasonal affective disorderfamily and social life8-hour shiftshuman physiologyhealthtraining10-hour shiftsmanagementtransportationOnline resource for shiftworkers and managers in 24/7 operations, providing tips, information, and advice on sleep, alertness, scheduling, safety, and fatigue in round-the-clock operations -- manufacturing, utilities, transportation, railroads, airlines, trucking, healthcare, public safety, police, firefighters, military, and more.http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)Blogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-7122669555707110772Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:24:00 +00002009-02-28T11:24:51.923-05:00My old friends at Circadian Information, now of Stoneham, Massachusetts, have launched a new site to promote and sell their publications.  It has been 7 years since I left Circadian and they have created many new reports and resources during that time, but I am delighted to see that many of the publications I started are still available -- Working Nights, the monthly employee newsletter for http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/C64ocj1Oxi4/new-site-offers-publications-for-247.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/C64ocj1Oxi4" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-site-offers-publications-for-247.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-4283572494439067575Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:47:00 +00002009-01-08T18:47:08.034-05:00The Elmira, New York (USA) police department tried 12-hour shifts in 2008 but has decided to return it's an 8-hour shift schedule.  This bucks a trend towards 12-hour shifts.  But, unique circumstances may have doomed the 12-hour shift schedule.  Soon after the switch, the department was hit by unexpected reductions in staffing due to retirements and injuries.  The result was greater buden on http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/M9yN-H9KpUE/police-force-goes-back-to-8-hour-shifts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/M9yN-H9KpUE" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2009/01/police-force-goes-back-to-8-hour-shifts.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-3925956002640514783Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:15:00 +00002008-12-05T21:15:18.373-05:00In Canada, Wal-Marts stay open 24-hours a day in December, and many of them do so year round.  This is a practice they've been doing for many years.  According to Kevin Groh, director of corporate affairs, Wal-Mart Canada Corp. "This would be our fourth year across Canada. Initially it started as a test and what was initially something of a novelty has become, as we see it, fairly mainstream. Thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/K4HZnJ4V91I/canadian-wal-marts-open-24-hours-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/K4HZnJ4V91I" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/12/canadian-wal-marts-open-24-hours-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-7559586991615472115Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:07:00 +00002008-12-05T21:07:50.971-05:00Vanda Pharmaceuticals is working to bring to market tasimelteon, a drug that mimicks the effects of the homrone melatonin and can be used to help reset human biological clocks.  This, of course can be useful for those travelling across time zones and for shiftworkers looking to adjust their sleep schedules.  Of course, melatonin is already on the market as a supplement (meaning it's not regulatedhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/OMiJq2PwJ3A/new-drug-mimicks-melatonin-to-help-jet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/OMiJq2PwJ3A" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/12/new-drug-mimicks-melatonin-to-help-jet.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-2547398785443640985Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:57:00 +00002008-12-05T20:57:41.346-05:00Recently we've been receiving a lot of announcements about new techniques and new drugs that can help shiftworkers to get better sleep.  For instance, a new study from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago says shiftworkers can use exposure to light and darkness, using dark glasses and specific sleep schedules.  (The study is published in the December issue of Sleep.)   --  The National http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/uZSDYq6dvGE/dark-glasses-and-sleep-scheduling-can.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/uZSDYq6dvGE" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/12/dark-glasses-and-sleep-scheduling-can.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-4536766620661204017Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:12:00 +00002008-10-31T22:12:58.787-04:00Early Sunday morning, we'll add an hour this weekend.  While the rest of the world gets an extra hour of sleep, shiftworkers on duty work an extra hour.  Be careful driving home from work, and make sure you get paid for that extra hour :)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/oU1_N1t_hf0/dont-forget-daylight-savings-time-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/oU1_N1t_hf0" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/10/dont-forget-daylight-savings-time-this.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-5044392228910379163Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:18:00 +00002008-10-12T11:19:00.411-04:00The Silver Spings (Maryland, USA) police department is considering moving to a 12-hour shift.  The proposed schedule will include some 8-hour days to ensure that there are 80 hours per pay period.  The shift schedule provides for more days off, as 12-hour shifts do.  Initially, the new shift schedule will be used on a pilot basis for 6 months and then be evaluated for further use.  As always, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/FiKTc_FzUX8/another-police-department-looks-at.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/FiKTc_FzUX8" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/10/another-police-department-looks-at.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-8102920274823272520Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:46:00 +00002008-10-11T22:28:07.521-04:00schedulesmanagementThe folks at Shiftwork Solutions have written a nice article on the gas, environmental, and time savings to be had from switching to a 4 day/week, 10-hour day schedule. The article, Rising Gas Prices Put a Squeeze on the Work Week, appeared on the Industry Week website. It's not exactly a shiftwork issue, but it's an interesting read.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/WYDRqWbtZQw/shiftwork-consultants-weigh-in-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/WYDRqWbtZQw" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/10/shiftwork-consultants-weigh-in-on.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-6615477144826994206Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:06:00 +00002008-10-11T22:28:41.998-04:00sleep apneaI came across my friends at Circadian a couple of times this week. This week I saw an item on Wall Street Journal's Marketplace -- "CIRCADIAN Partners With Sleep Pointe, Adding Comprehensive Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening, Treatment and Compliance Services to Their Leading Fatigue Risk Management Solution for Transportation and Other 24/7 Industries." I have close family experience with sleephttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/MLoRvPHYAMU/circadian-announces-sleep-apnea.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/MLoRvPHYAMU" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/10/circadian-announces-sleep-apnea.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-5648804344097907895Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:51:00 +00002008-10-11T22:29:01.793-04:00schedulesmanagementpoliceThe National Shiftwork Information Center believes in applying the best research to managing shiftwork operations. We are not aware of any substantial body of research on police officers working 24-hour shifts so we're hesitant to make any definitive statement about it. Let's just say we're skeptical.The article on the Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan, USA) mentions that this is not unlikehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/kASYRCtyz8g/michigan-police-department-considers-24.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/kASYRCtyz8g" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/10/michigan-police-department-considers-24.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-7721862587862276756Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:52:00 +00002008-10-05T10:52:57.314-04:00The Monitor (McAllen, Texas, USA) posted an article "For those who work at night, I salute you" which runs through the huge impact that shiftwork, and shiftworkers, have on today's world and reminds us that too often the people, the shiftworkers, who make it happen are out of sight and out of mind.  It is always great to see articles giving shiftworkers their due, even if we've seen this article http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/r-FfFJb1GG8/shiftwork-appreciation-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/r-FfFJb1GG8" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/10/shiftwork-appreciation-again.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-397911000729786472Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:47:00 +00002008-10-11T22:29:39.014-04:00family and social lifenight workerThe New Zealand website, Stuff.co.nz, published an article "Kids hit by shiftwork: Children of shift workers are spending up to 50 hours a week in care as their parents juggle work and home life, Families Commission research shows." If you're a shiftworker and parent, or if you manage shiftwork operations, you might want to take a look at this brief article.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/vSZb69KYHh0/managing-shiftwork-lifestyle-how.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/vSZb69KYHh0" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/10/managing-shiftwork-lifestyle-how.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-4333493962975554229Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:00:00 +00002008-09-28T11:00:44.786-04:00<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/kBsh7JVGt_M/shiftworkers-develop-relaxation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/kBsh7JVGt_M" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/shiftworkers-develop-relaxation.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-8233593701204905212Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:51:00 +00002008-09-28T10:51:55.479-04:00<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/deYYk1jEV7Q/exercise-helps-shiftworkers-maintain.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/deYYk1jEV7Q" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/exercise-helps-shiftworkers-maintain.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-900947170323585785Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:30:00 +00002008-09-26T21:30:56.276-04:00The Sacremento Bee (Sacremento, California, USA) ran an editorial Fatigue creates a schedule for tragedy:METROLINK CRASH BRINGS AN OLD ISSUE INTO FRESH, TRAGIC FOCUS calls on legislators to act on a bill modifying work rules design to reduce work schedules and railroad engineer fatigue.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/JRPhNnvdZlo/newspaper-editorial-calls-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/JRPhNnvdZlo" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/newspaper-editorial-calls-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-1649738222527767922Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:19:00 +00002008-09-26T21:19:58.388-04:00<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-marginhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/-Gw0ow5_SUI/armodafinil-developed-for-narcolepsy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/-Gw0ow5_SUI" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/armodafinil-developed-for-narcolepsy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-9137149339643213780Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:08:00 +00002008-09-04T10:08:06.106-04:00Canada.com has a nice summary of some of the major findings from the StatsCanada report mentioned in our previous post.  You can check out the article at http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=ba92992f-d344-4505-8100-78f0460efab4.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/U6MZ9Jnl1vg/shiftwork-in-canada-statistics-canada.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/U6MZ9Jnl1vg" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/shiftwork-in-canada-statistics-canada.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-3972852623846278090Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:03:00 +00002008-09-04T10:03:17.206-04:00Statistics Canada, the government department responsible for keeping track of workforce statistics in Canada, has reported that almost 30% of the Canadian workforce works some form of irregular shift.  For comparison, in the US and much of Western Europe, official estimates tend to hover in the 20-24% range.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/sXClgIr5tK4/shiftwork-growing-in-canada.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/sXClgIr5tK4" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/shiftwork-growing-in-canada.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-4935744612225996638Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:44:00 +00002008-10-11T22:32:24.170-04:00family and social lifeEarlier this summer, the New York Daily News (New York, New York, USA) ran an article entitled "Working Graveyard Shifts, Raising Families." The reporter spoke with three families about their experience. Anything earth-shattering in this article? No, but for many shiftworkers (and managers for that matter), particularly those new to the practice, it can be helpful to hear about the experience http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/YUrOSu4izKY/shiftworkers-getting-by-while-raising.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/YUrOSu4izKY" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/08/shiftworkers-getting-by-while-raising.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-1720190613125980468Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:37:00 +00002008-08-26T08:37:32.935-04:00A study entitled "Napping During Night Shift: Practices, Preferences, and Perceptions of Critical Care Nurses" once again confirmed the benefits of napping for maintaining alertness and performance in overnight shifts.  The study, conducted at Victoria General Hospital (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), should serve as a reminder to managers in all 24/7 industries to remain open-minded about the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/GGpFJRQv4V8/another-study-supports-napping-on-job.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/GGpFJRQv4V8" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/08/another-study-supports-napping-on-job.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-2502303650695459352Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:21:00 +00002008-10-11T22:33:00.123-04:00night workersafetyThe body of a 29-year old student zoo keeper working an overnight shift along at the Caracas (Venezuela) zoo was found in the grip of a 10-foot python. An article in the local newspaper noted that the zoo keeper had broken zoo rules by entering the cage holding the snake. The National Shiftwork Information Center view is somewhat different -- fatigue in the overnight hours impairs judgment, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/ookbPeKfpEk/nightshift-zookeeper-killed-by-snake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/ookbPeKfpEk" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/08/nightshift-zookeeper-killed-by-snake.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-8347189914849950794Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:10:00 +00002008-07-24T07:10:21.078-04:00The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) is working to better understand:What are the key stressors involved with police work?How should NIOSH share our future results with law enforcement agencies throughout the country (e.g. workshops, print media, Web sites)?What types of interventions would be feasible in the future to 1) decrease work-related stress and 2) improve http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/DOAJVSO9yz0/national-institute-for-occupational.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/DOAJVSO9yz0" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/07/national-institute-for-occupational.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-6968596097593211052Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:01:00 +00002008-07-18T15:01:19.894-04:00In Bluffton, Indiana (USA) the IBE ethanol plant has opened.  This 24/7 facility currently has a staff of 50 people, somewhat more than planned, in order to account for anticipated attrition as new employees drop off in the face of the challenges of shiftwork.  The local paper quoted a manager as saying:"The 50 staff is actually slightly more than IBE originally planned on, but Seward explained http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/XJJWQEWc2OA/indiana-ethanol-plant-opertaing-247.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/XJJWQEWc2OA" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/07/indiana-ethanol-plant-opertaing-247.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-8732225850177771760Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:43:00 +00002008-07-18T14:43:47.113-04:00Over the last couple of months I have seen many articles on governments mandating or promoting 4-day work weeks as a way to reduce traffic and energy consumption.  While this may reduce commuting and gas use, it often means facilities are now sitting idle for 3 days each week.  But, I ran across an article on GroovyGreen.com about Indonesia promoting the 4-day work week.  What caught my eye in http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/C5uoGGllcQw/environmental-push-may-promote.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/C5uoGGllcQw" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/07/environmental-push-may-promote.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024857485690570400.post-4222113880417397628Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:57:00 +00002008-10-11T22:33:47.836-04:00family and social life Just as humans evolved to sleep at night, we evolved to eat all of our meals during the daytime. We do not digest food as well at night. The result is weight gain, heartburn, and other gastrointestinal problems. It is therefore important to eat smaller portions and make appropriate food choices. Unfortunately, often the food choices most widely available at night are fast food, doughnuts, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~3/Oiip0i-nG50/managing-in-247-operation-making-right.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Coburn)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalShiftworkInformationCenter/~4/Oiip0i-nG50" height="1" width="1"/>http://shiftworkinformation.blogspot.com/2008/06/managing-in-247-operation-making-right.html