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2 August 2006 - New HSE Guidance for
Shiftworkers
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new guidance which aims
to raise awareness of the health and safety risks of shift work and suggests
sensible measures employers, safety representatives and employees can use to
reduce the negative impact of shift work.
Often, badly designed working patterns, shifts and long working hours do not
allow time for rest and recovery which can result in fatigue, accidents,
injuries and ill health. There are over 3.5million people in the UK
who work shifts across a variety of sectors, including public services and heavy
industry.
The publication - Managing Shift Work: Health and Safety Guidance
- explains employers' legal duties and the risks associated with shiftwork.
It provides advice on risk assessment, design of shift work schedules and the
shift-work environment.
Trevor Shaw, Head of HSE's Human Factors Corporate Topic Group commented:
"It is important not to underestimate the risks of shift work. If shift
workers are fatigued, their performance will be affected. 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."
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
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