Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Press Releases
E081:06 26 July 2006
Raising awareness of the health and safety risks of shift work and suggesting sensible measures employers, safety representatives and employees can use to reduce the negative impact of shift work is the aim of a new publication from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
More than 3.5million people in the UK work shifts, across a variety of sectors including public services and heavy industry. Poorly designed shift-working arrangements and long working hours that do not balance the demands of work with time for rest and recovery can result in fatigue, accidents, injuries and ill health.
Drawing together advice and best practice from a range of sources, “ Managing Shift Work: Health and Safety Guidance” explains employers' legal duties and the risks associated with shiftwork and provides advice on risk assessment, design of shift work schedules and the shift-work environment.
“It is important not to underestimate the risks of shift work. If shift workers are fatigued, their performance will be affected,” said Trevor Shaw, Head of HSE’s Human Factors Corporate Topic Group: “ As a result they may make more errors, which can lead to accidents and injuries. This guidance offers a wealth of practical help and advice to businesses on how to manage those risks.”
These guidelines are general, and cover a wide range of factors that may or may not be relevant to particular industry sectors. Therefore it is necessary to use common sense when applying them. Employers will also need to balance the good practice guidelines with the operational concerns of their businesses.
“Managing shift work: Health and Safety Guidance” is a priced publication available from HSE books at £9.95. HSE priced and free publications are available by mail order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA. Tel: 01787 881165; Fax: 01787 313995.
For information about health and safety, ring HSE’s Infoline Tel: 0845 345 0055; Fax: 0845 408 9566; Textphone; 0845 408 9577; hse.infoline@natbrit.com or write to HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park; Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
Robert Gage 020 7717 6902
Out of hours 020 7928 8382
HSE's InfoLine 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG
HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/