Shift-work takes its toll

Airlines, hospitals, essential services, transport companies and the media have always required night-shift workers. And with more businesses going global and working around the clock, night-shift jobs are increasing in retail, information technology and financial services. But how healthy is night-shift work?

Andrew Rankin, a supervisor for machine manufacturer Teknatool, works 4pm to 2am four days a week. On workdays Rankin gets to sleep at 3.30am and rises at noon for breakfast. Lunch is about 6pm and dinner at 9.30pm.

On his days off, Rankin finds it difficult to get to sleep before 2am and the mornings can be confusing.

"The house is pretty quiet during the day," he says, "but people with young children don't last long on night shift. You can't go to bed at 3am and be up for children the next day."

However, lifestyle choices such as being home for children or pursuing a hobby is exactly why many people opt for night-shifts, says Grainne Troute, managing director for McDonald's.

Fast-food outlets struggle to attract young people for Friday and Saturday nights, when they prefer to be socialising. But people in their 20s often do those shifts because their partner can be at home with the children.

Such flexibility attracts many people to night-shift work, and there are other advantages. The pay is usually higher and many workers do a shorter week and have extended days off. This is often four days on, three days off, but in sectors such as long-haul transport the "off" period can be as long as 10 days. Rankin gets an extra week's holiday each year for his night-shift efforts.

Some people prefer nights because the work flows better and there are fewer disruptions.

However, if poorly managed, it can be detrimental to your health, particularly for young people and women.

Harvard University research shows a link between night-shift work and depression and heart disease, and that women working nights are more likely to get breast cancer and give birth to low-weight babies.

Department of Labour publications in New Zealand say health and safety issues around all shift work include sleep problems, stomach and bowel disorders, and heart and blood vessel problems.

Rankin says that people ill-prepared to manage the physical, mental and social effects of shift-work soon move back to regular hours.

"I think you either cope with shift-work or you don't," he says. "Some people get very tired and rundown. There is also no doubt that the longer you are on nights the longer you take to recover and the more anti-social you become."

So what can employers do? Some are uneasy about not giving more thought to the effects of shift-work but are not sure what to do about it.

Charlotte Bull, a a spokeswoman for the Department of Labour, says an increase in health and safety concerns has prompted the department to develop new guidelines and these will be available next month. Hopefully, they will help shift employer awareness in the right direction.

STAY HEALTHY ON NIGHT-SHIFT

* Proper eating is essential. Limit fast food and eat fresh fruit and vegetables daily.

* Short, light protein-based snacks of meat, nuts or eggs - together with water, fruit and vegetables - helps eliminate sluggishness. Avoid heavy meals until your appetite kicks in.

* Short catnaps before a shift help some people feel better the next day.

* After a shift, don't force yourself to get up if you feel very tired. Your body needs enough sleep to ensure healthy digestion and performance.

* If you rely on alcohol, sleeping pills and caffeine to cope with shift work, it's time to find a job with regular hours.

* If your home is not quiet enough for daytime sleep, you may need to move.

* Pay close attention to the effect of shift work on important relationships. Ask family and friends for feedback.

* Get out in the sun and fresh air every day. It's important for mood and energy levels.