Introduction to problems of shift work

Abstract

This chapter gives an overview of the health problems associated with shift work, and the main organizational guidelines on how to protect workers’ health and well-being. Working time organization is becoming a key factor on account of new technologies, market globalization, economic competition, and extension of social services to general population, involving more and more people in continuous assistance and control of the work processes over the 24 h. The strong increase of epidemiological studies on this issue demonstrates the seriousness of this risk factor for human health and well-being, at both social and psychophysical levels, starting from disruption of biological circadian rhythms and the sleep/wake cycle, ending in several psychosomatic troubles and disorders, probably including cancer, and passing through impairment of performance efficiency and family and social life. Appropriate interventions on the organization of shift schedules according to ergonomic criteria, on the one hand, and a careful health surveillance and social support to shift workers, on the other hand, are important preventive and corrective measures able to allow people to keep working without significant health and social impairment.