Shift work

With shift work shift work or a working design is called at the same work according to a certain offset are used successively in the same job, so they need to do their work within a given period at different times. Shift work is carried out, if you want to work longer than the usual daily working time in a company or for other reasons activities or emergency services are required outside of normal daily work.

Description

Shift work is referred to as non-continuous shift work, if the work is interrupted at the end of the day, usually (also called lunch shift ) in a two -shift operation with early and late shifts. From continuous shift work is when round the clock, is thus also worked in a night shift. If the continuous shift work interrupted on weekends, is partly continuous shift work before, otherwise fully continuous shift work, although the weekends are included. If a worker doing shift work at different times of the day is rotating shifts.

The term shift work is more in the private sector use, shift work is more common in the public sector. On larger vessels, both the layers and the corresponding part of the crew are called guard for centuries. In hospitals, the proportion of nocturnal shift work is traditionally called a night guard.

In some industries without continuous shift work, the terms early shift and / or late shifts are common. In other again, officers only have to keep for emergencies - see call service.

Conventional coating systems

In the industrial sector the following systems are widely used:

Depending on the tariff of existing employees have taken advantage of " Vollkonti " four or five layer groups. If the four- shift operation results in a working week of 42 hours for the employee. If the working time including - what is the rule - similar to the one made ​​by additionally granted free layers. Conduct the agreed working hours below 38 hours per week, working time management of the free layers (there are also still leave and public holidays and additional free shifts for work on Sundays and provide holidays and compensate for disease) very complex, and there are tend to work scientifically unfavorable working profiles for employees. Then Five shifts offers. The work in this case is 33.6 hours per week. A higher contractual working then leads to so-called available layers that can be used for sickness compensation or training. Just five-layer models allow scientific work relatively cheap models.

Depending on the type of operation, other coating systems or overlapping times can be scheduled to work handover. The detailed rules on working hours are generally basically set in collective agreements and detailed operating agreements for the company or the location.

Usually, the layer of the individual employee is changed by rotation; but there are also models ( in Germany not widespread ), is set in which only a certain layer ( permanent night service, for example ). Shift work and "Flexible working time" go partly together seamlessly.

Exchange layer

Exchange layer is a working time model, which is based on shift work. In case of AC layer will change the working hours in a regular rhythm to load all employees involved evenly. After a night shift, the provisions of the Working Time Act lead to a free layer in order to ensure adequate recovery. The same for work on weekends. In addition to the free shifts and financial payments are made depending on the collective agreement. Collective agreements may be a minimum number of shift changes be prescribed in a period, so that benefits from this form of work for the employees concerned are perpetuated over the periods (eg to preserve the financial acquis ).

Health risks

Shift work involves a relation to the work to regular work hours increased health risk, especially if night work is included. In many countries, medical checks are in night workers therefore prescribed. Common with (night) shift work related disorders are insomnia, headaches, depression, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, heart and circulatory diseases. Continuous shift work is physically debilitating and hinders social activities (sports, family, etc. ). Often the rest periods are affected. For example, the sleep after a night shift usually shorter and worse than controlled night sleep.

The importance of psycho- social burdens on health is often underestimated. Recent research results show evidence of a positive correlation between shift work and cancer. Greater importance is in particular given the changed at night and shift work, melatonin levels. The disturbance of the physiological circadian rhythm leads among other things to a restricted melatonin production and therefore decreased levels. The International Agency for Research on Cancer ( IARC) leads shift work since December 5, 2007 in the official list probably carcinogenic agents ( "probably carcinogenic to humans" ).

An additional workload resulting in shift work through the current (partial) Adjustments Circadianrhythmus. This will lessen particularly recommended after another to work interspersed with night shifts, so no more than three night shifts.

Longer layers (eg, 12 -hour shifts ) are often popular because they bring more free days or more money. But they also harbor significantly higher loads due to the exponentially increasing over a period of stress-strain curve and thus a significantly increased risk of accidents. 12 -hour shifts are in accordance with the Working Time Act so only under specific, burden poor working conditions or only exceptionally allowed.

Very early start times - perhaps even associated with long travel distances - bring a similar load as night shifts. Permanent night shift systems reduce Although the burdens from otherwise taking place partial adaptation benefits of Circadianrhythmus, but often considerable favor for other problems such as Desozialisierungstendenzen, alcohol abuse and drug addiction.

Health risks associated with shift work are often difficult to estimate directly for those affected. First, separate those who no longer want or can, and are no longer available as a result in the statistics ( " healthy worker effect "). Second, there are usually very slow and the construction is difficult or impossible perceptible damage, which can then be "surprisingly visible."

Industries

Shift work comes in all companies and organizations, must be where worked on every day and every hour or where the operating time exceeds the daily or weekly working time considerably. They arise from the necessity of long service times to offer ( hospital, transport, power plant ) or from the high costs that would be incurred if a stoppage of equipment ( furnace, chemical plants, food and beverage industry), or generally out of necessity, high to amortize capital investment through appropriate operating times ( traffic, production lines in the automotive industry).