This internal clock governs the timing of biological rhythms. Located in the hypothalamus, in an area called the suprachiasmatic nucleau (SCN), every human is equipped with a biological clock.
Shift work clock drivers#
Even when the shift is over, the minute the exhausted worker gets behind the wheel, the potential for dozing while driving becomes a hazard to other unsuspecting drivers as well.Īlthough the dangers of not obtaining adequate sleep have been well documented for years, many people are still unaware of the negative impact burning the midnight oil has on their internal biological rhythms and overall health. The demands of the job require those working the graveyard shift to press on, while their biological clock is saying it is time to sleep. Then, when the nighttime shift arrives, they consume one cup of coffee after another to keep the REM pressure at bay, with the constant urge to sleep nagging them throughout the night.Īll it takes is for an over-tired, heavy-machinery operator to doze at his post to create a dangerous situation. Like many shift workers, he or she may find it difficult to sleep during the day, when rest is necessary. Take for instance, a graveyard shift worker at a nighttime construction job.
Shift work sleep disorder can manifest as excessive sleepiness when awake, yet an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep when desired. In fact, there is a sleep disorder specific to shift workers called shift work sleep disorder, which is brought on by difficulty adjusting to a non-traditional sleep-wake cycle. One of the main cons of shift work is that working non-traditional hours that do not align with the earth’s natural day/night cycle can disrupt the circadian rhythm, resulting in sleep problems. Rotating Shift: While other types of shift work schedules are generally fixed, meaning that the start and end times do not change, nor do the days of the week, in a rotating shift hours and days wokred may vary from week to week. Swing Shift: A swing shift typically beings in the afternoon, and continues on into the night, for example, from 3 p.m. For example, a split shift employee might work from 7 a.m. Split Shift: In a split shift, an employee must take on two separate shifts in the same day to accumulate their total working hours. Night shift is also known as the graveyard shift. Night Shift: Night shift describes any shift that requires working through the night, for example 9 p.m. While shift work is, in essence, any schedule that’s performed in rotations, these rotations can take on a variety of forms. One of the biggest downsides to working irregular hours is that shift work negatively affects our biological rhythms. Although shift work plays a necessary role in many industries, such as transportation, law enforcement and healthcare, it has its pros and cons. Shift workers operate outside of the general nine-to-five grind, often working late hours, rotating their hours from week to week or even working shifts that continue through dawn. Monday through Friday, many modern jobs keep people working around the clock in rotations, an alternative schedule known as shift work. While many employees enjoy an average work schedule of 9 a.m.
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