Michael J. Colligan

Extended workdays: Effects of 8-hour and 12-hour rotating shift schedules on performance, subjective alertness, sleep patterns, and psychosocial variables

Abstract A newly instituted 3-4 day/12-h rotating shift schedule was compared to the previous 5-7 day/8-h schedule using standard laboratory-type measures of performance and alertness, and a questionnaire on sleep patterns and other personal habits. After seven months adaptation to the new schedule, there were decrements in the laboratory-type tests of performance/alertness which could be attributed to the extra 4 h of work per day. There were also reductions in sleep, and disruptions of other personal activities during 12-h workdays. However, increases in self-reported stress were attenuated by the shortened workweek. These results are discussed in terms of trade-offs between longer workdays and shorter workweeks.

Health and safety training in a sample of open-shop construction companies

Problem: Compared to other industries, construction has the third-highest death rate. Many agree, and research has shown, that one way to change these statistics is through effective worker safety and health training. Little is known about the quality and nature of safety and health training available to open-shop (nonunion) construction workers. Method: It was the goal of this preliminary study to provide some initial background information about the nature and quality of safety and training in open-shop construction operations. Results: While the majority of contractors surveyed did provide safety and health training, most did not quantitatively evaluate their training programs in terms of reduction in hazardous behaviors or exposures, or increased job satisfaction or productivity. Impact on Industry: Learning about the major parameters (e.g., methods, policies, barriers, company/worker perceptions, etc.) influencing nonunion construction safety training will help guide future construction safety-related research and intervention strategies on a national basis.

Long workdays versus restdays: assessing fatigue and alertness with a portable performance

A test battery designed to assess psychological/behavioral fatigue was used to compare restdays to a workweek of five 12-hr days at a data entry job simulation. Across both workdays and restdays, the battery was presented at regular intervals to test for fatigue effects and diurnal variations. Increased data entry errors across the workday and the workweek as well as subjective reports of increased tiredness on workdays indicated that the work regimen was fatiguing. Test battery performance paralleled those results. On workdays, as compared with restdays, grammatical reasoning was faster but less accurate; digit addition was slower; simple, dual, and choice reaction times were slower; and hand steadiness decreased. The results demonstrated the sensitivity of the battery to long hours of work. The results are discussed in terms of work-rest differences, changes across the workweek, diurnal variations, and cognitive demand.

Occupational Incidence Rates of Mental Health Disorders

This study attempted to provide occupational health professionals with an empirical basis for identifying and selecting specific occupations for further research into the relationship between job stress and worker health. Specifically, this involved an examination of the admission records of community mental health centers throughout one state (Tennessee) to determine the incidence rate of diagnosed mental health disorders for 130 major occupations (i.e., occupations employing 1,000 or more workers in the state). These occupations were then rank-ordered by incidence rate to provide a general scheme for evaluating the relative frequency of mental health disorders among the select occupations. The results indicated a disproportionate incidence of mental health anomalies among the hospital/health care professions. Some tentative explanations of this finding are presented, and suggestions are made for future research efforts.

Frequency of sickness absence and worksite clinic visits among nurses as a function of shift

The records of 1219 nurses on permanent day, afternoon, night and rotating shifts were examined to assess the effects of shift schedule on sick leave and frequency of worksite clinic visits. Relative to nurses on permanent shifts, rotators exhibited a significantly higher rate of clinic visits and took more sick days for serious illnesses.

An investigation of apparent mass psychogenic illness in an electronics plant

An investigation of a case of apparent mass psychogenic illness was undertaken in a midwestern electronics assembly plant. The plant employed 500 workers, of whom 80% were female. The illness outbreak involved a total of 90 female first shift workers who reported a variety of nonspecific symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and lightheadedness in response to a strange odor in the workplace. Although environmental testing revealed some localized concentrations of a few airbone contaminants, no environmental toxins were discovered that could account for the continuing outbreaks of illness. An ad hocsample of affected and nonaffected workers was surveyed to assess the influence of psychological, sociological, and work environment factors in the outbreak. Analysis of the data revealed that affected workers reported more physical discomfort (temperature, variations, poor lighting) in the workplace as well as psychological job stress (increase in workload, conflicts with supervisors) than did nonaffected workers. Moreover, affected workers scored significantly higher than nonaffected workers on personality tests measuring extraversion and hysteria traits.

The Twenty-four Hour Workday: Proceedings of a Symposium on Variations in Work-Sleep Schedules

Abstract : The function of this symposium was to bring together workers in three areas that in one way or another, are concerned with a common problem: variations in work-sleep schedules. These three areas are (1) shift work, (2) sleep, and particularly that area concerned with sleep loss and the fragmentation of sleep schedules, and (3) biological rhythms. In addition to social and health problems, which were covered in this symposium, shift work inevitably changes sleep; sleep problems are a major complaint of shift workers. Any variations in work-sleep schedules immediately involves, in a complex fashion, the basic biological rhythms.

Mass psychogenic illness in a shoe factory

SummaryAn investigation was conducted in a USA industrial plant where 50–75 workers reported experiencing symptoms of headache, lightheadedness, and dizziness among others apparently in response to a strange odor in the workplace. Since environmental testing in the plant produced essentially negative results, a behavioral factors evaluation was undertaken. The results of interviews with affected workers and analysis of survey data indicated that those workers who reported experiencing more symptoms during the outbreak also reported more dissatisfaction with the work environment, more physical and psychological stress on the job, and more stress from financial pressure at home. It was concluded that the outbreak represented a case of industrial mass psychogenic illness which was precipitated by a combination of physical and psychological job stress and other life stresses.

Lack of stress–health relationships: A base rate problem?

The lack of relationship between psychological or social stressors and various health indices is common. This paper presents stress and health data collected from nurses at 10 different hospitals and from food processors at eight different sites. Correlations computed in samples constructed so that the number of people affected by a particular illness is approximately equal to those not so affected were consistently higher than similar correlations computed for the entire sample of 1,934 respondents. Because correlations are affected by the base rate of the phenomenon one is studying, it is suggested that other indices such as simple percentages in affected and unaffected groups are more appropriate.

Shiftwork: A record study approach

The use of employer records to assess shiftwork effects is discussed. Methods for gaining access to records are covered, along with some of the problems involved in evaluating the data. Five general sources of data are described.