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A shift in the right direction. RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce
- Helena Richardson
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1 A shift in the right direction RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce
2 Acknowledgements The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) would like to thank the following for their contribution to this publication: The RCN Safety Representatives Committee, with a special acknowledgement to the Chair, Robert Moore, who worked tirelessly to give this issue the recognition it deserves. Kim Sunley, RCN Senior Employment Relations Adviser Nicola Lee, RCN Employment Relations Adviser Note: this publication contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence v1.0. RCN Legal Disclaimer This publication contains information, advice and guidance to help members of the RCN. It is intended for use within the UK but readers are advised that practices may vary in each country and outside the UK. The information in this publication has been compiled from professional sources, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the RCN provides accurate and expert information and guidance, it is impossible to predict all the circumstances in which it may be used. Accordingly, to the extent permitted by law, the RCN shall not be liable to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by what is contained in or left out of this information and guidance. Published by the Royal College of Nursing, 20 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0RN 2012 Royal College of Nursing. All rights reserved. Other than as permitted by law no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. This publication may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by ways of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without the prior consent of the Publishers.
3 Royal college of nursing Contents Foreword 4 Introduction 5 1. Shift work: health, safety and fatigue 6 2. Employer responsibilities 9 3. Shift work risk assessments The role of safety representatives Practical strategies for shift workers RCN recommendations References Further information 25 Appendix 1 HSE advice on reducing 26 the risks of shift work Appendix 2 Working Time Regulations 36 Appendix 3 Employment rights and 38 changes to shift work patterns 3
4 RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce Foreword In many health care settings, patient care depends upon the delivery of a nursing service 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Consequently, service provision relies heavily on nursing staff working shifts. Adapting to shift patterns or changes in shift patterns can be difficult and if the associated risks are not managed properly, this can lead to ill health and fatigue, which in turn can have an impact on patient care. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that employers have a moral, legal and business requirement to ensure a healthy workplace. According to WHO (2010), this requirement is one in which workers and managers collaborate using a continual improvement process to protect and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of all workers and the sustainability of the workplace the healthy workplace principle is one that actively promotes health and not just prevents ill health and reduces sickness absence. In the spirit of collaboration, promotion and protection, this guidance explores the health and safety impacts of shift work, employers responsibilities to manage shift patterns and care for shift workers, and gives practical tips on how nurses and health care assistants working shifts can help look after themselves. This publication is primarily aimed at RCN safety representatives to assist them in their work with employers to protect members and patients from the negative impacts of shift working. It will also be a useful resource for health care managers or specialist advisers responsible for managing shift systems or supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of health care workers. Ideally, this publication should be read in conjunction with Spinning plates (RCN, 2008), the RCN s guidance on flexible working. Changes in shift patterns may also affect an individual s contract of employment and/or terms and conditions, and further information on employment rights can be found in Appendix 3 on page 38. I commend this publication and would encourage its circulation within your organisation to promote a healthy working environment and support your organisation s greatest asset its staff. Robert Moore Chair, RCN UK Safety Representatives Committee Return to contents 4
5 Royal college of nursing Introduction The reality of 24-hour health care delivery means many health care workers are required to work shifts. There is no specific definition of shift work in law but it usually means a work activity scheduled outside standard daytime hours where there may be a handover of duty from one individual or work group to another, or a pattern of work where one employee replaces another on the same job within a 24-hour period. Shift work patterns can take many forms and Table 1 gives examples of common shift patterns across many occupational settings and the terms used to describe shift work. Table 1: Common shift working terms and patterns Common terms used in shift work Rotating shifts Type of shift pattern Working a pattern of days and nights, this refers to the speed and direction which workers change shifts. Shifts can be forward (from morning to afternoon to night shifts) or backwards rotating (the reverse of forward). Rotation can be fast; for example changing from early to late shifts every day or so, or doing a week of earlies then a week of lates. Night shifts Typically starts anywhere between 8pm and 10pm and runs for hours. Split shifts This involves the shift being split into two parts; for example, a worker may work the first part of the shift between 6am-10am and the latter part between 4pm-8pm. 12 hour shifts 12-hour shifts are worked instead of the more traditional eight hour shift arrangement. Earlies or morning shift Typically a 7am-3pm or 8am-4pm shift. Lates or evening shift Typically 2pm-10pm, but in part time work can be 5pm-9pm. Continental shift This is a continuous three-shift system that rotates rapidly; for example three mornings, then two afternoons, then two nights. Three-shift system The day is divided into three working periods morning, afternoon and night. This kind of shift work can involve a week of mornings followed by a week on evenings and a week on nights. Double days/two shift This is normally two shifts of eight hours each; for example 6am-2pm and 2pm-10pm. Shifts are usually alternated weekly or over longer intervals. In 2009 an RCN survey of the nursing workforce found that 57 per cent worked shifts; of those, 58 per cent worked internal rotation, 32 per cent worked day shifts and 10 per cent worked permanent night shifts. The survey revealed there were differences in sectors, with permanent night shifts more prevalent in the independent sector and among agency and bank nurses. Working 12-hour shifts was found to be more common among nurses working in care homes; 63 per cent worked 12-hour shifts compared to 41 per cent of NHS hospital nurses and 34 per cent of independent hospital nurses. The health and safety impacts of shift work are widely recognised. Long hours, fatigue and lack of rest breaks or time to recuperate between shifts are associated with an increased risk of errors. For example, fatigue and shift working arrangements were cited as major contributory factors in incidents such as Bhopal, the Clapham Junction rail disaster and Chernobyl (HSE, 2012a). Fatigue is a recognised contributing factor in patient safety incidents such as drug errors (Health Service Journal, 2005). In addition, long-term exposure to shift work, particularly night shift work, has been associated with a whole range of health issues for workers. These range from chronic sleep deficit to gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular problems, and an increased susceptibility to minor illnesses such as colds and gastroenteritis (Harrington, 2001; HSE, 2006). 5 Return to contents
6 RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce 1 Shift work: health, safety and fatigue Circadian rhythms Many of the health and safety impacts of shift work are associated with a disruption of the internal 24-hour body clock or circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms are controlled by our hypothalamus in the brain. Sleeping, waking, digestion, secretion of adrenalin, body temperature, blood pressure, pulse and many other important aspects of body functions and human behaviour are regulated by this 24-hour cycle. Humans are diurnal creatures, meaning that they are active during daylight hours. Our circadian rhythms have evolved, so that humans are active and perform best in the day and need to sleep at night. The circadian rhythms of shift workers working nights or rotating shifts can be disrupted which can lead to sleep disturbances, fatigue and health effects. Our body clock can make some adjustments to changes in our sleep/wake cycle however our internal body clock never fully adjusts, even for workers on permanent night shifts. Individuals will vary in their tolerance of shift working. Some individuals have a better adjustment to irregular shift patterns. Late sleepers (owls) adapt more easily to night shifts and rotating shifts than those who go to sleep early (larks). There are optimal shift patterns which can help mitigate disruption to the circadian rhythms and therefore reduce the risks, such as putting in place forward rotating shift patterns in other words, moving from early to late to night shifts rather than the reverse. Sleep deprivation Most adults appear to need between seven to eight hours sleep a night. Sleep is protective, allowing the body and mind to recuperate and rest. For many night shift workers sleep during the day can be fewer than seven hours, and may be of poorer quality and disrupted by daytime noise. Long working hours and inadequate breaks between late to early shifts can also impact on quantity of sleep. Deprivation or loss of sleep can be acute (for example, a parent staying up one night to care for a sick child) or cumulative, and this can lead to sleep debt, fatigue and poor health if cumulative. The effect of being awake for 17 hours or more has also been compared with having blood alcohol levels over the drink driving limits in most European countries (Department of Transport, 2010). Fatigue, errors and accidents Fatigue is defined as the decline in mental and/or physical performance that results from long working hours, lack of sleep, poor quality sleep or poorly designed shift work causing disruption of the internal body clock. Fatigue can result in slower reactions; decreased vigilance/increased risk taking behaviour; impaired problem solving ability, communication and memory; and can affect decision-making. Fatigue is cited as a contributory factor that can lead to an increased risk of errors and accidents. Fatigue has been implicated in 20 per cent of accidents on major roads and is estimated to cost the UK between 115 million and 240 million per year in terms of work accidents (HSE, 2012b). In health care, staff fatigue has been recognised as a contributory factor to patient safety incidents including drug errors (NPSA, 2004). The effect of continuous shift work has also been likened to a long distance traveller working in San Francisco and returning to London for their rest days (Harrington, 2001). Health There have been numerous studies of the impact of shift work on health and it is widely accepted that poorly managed shift work, particularly night shift work, can have a negative impact on mental health, the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system and reproductive health. Return to contents 6
7 Royal college of nursing In their 1992 book Making shift work tolerable, Monk and Folkard describe shift work as probably bad for the heart, almost certainly bad for the head and definitely bad for the gut. Much of the research on managing the risks of shift work has focused on the impact of sleep deprivation and fatigue on accidents in safety critical industries. However, employers also need to recognise that the health impacts of shift work are another factor that must be recognised in order to prevent ill health and promote health and wellbeing in the workplace. Mental health There is some evidence of increased anxiety and depression in shift workers linked to sleep deprivation, long working hours, chronic fatigue and disruption to family life and/or social support. Having a choice of shift patterns is also an important factor; an RCN study of nurse wellbeing found that working shifts when this is not the preferred pattern of work is associated with poorer psychological wellbeing (RCN, 2005). Cardiovascular system Cardiovascular problems such as hypertension and coronary heart disease have been linked to shift work. Gastrointestinal system Shift work has been linked with an increased risk of constipation, stomach ulcers and stomach upsets. These are most likely due to disruption of circadian rhythms and digestive patterns as shift workers eat at irregular hours. Increased use of cigarettes, caffeine and other stimulants in night shift workers may also affect the digestive system. Diabetes and obesity have also been linked to shift work. Lack of access to hot, good quality healthy foods during shifts may exacerbate these conditions. Reproductive health Shift work, particularly night shift work, may present risks to women of child bearing age. This is thought to be linked to the disruption of the menstrual cycle. Night shift work has also been linked to an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, low birth weight and prematurity (Harrington, 2001). Cancer Working night shift has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. In 2007, the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer classified shift work involving night work as probably carcinogenic to humans (WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2010). There is still much debate over this in the scientific community and studies indicate that the risk is associated with long-term exposure in other words, the number of years doing night shifts. Scientists and doctors in Denmark have recognised the risk to nurses and other workers doing night shifts and have made recommendations on the length of time doing night shift work; in the UK further research is being carried out by the HSE which is due to report in 2015 (Bonde et al., 2012). Age There is some evidence to suggest that older workers, in particular women, become less tolerant to shift work, particularly night work. With age, sleep becomes shorter and more fragmented and older workers may need a longer recovery time between shifts and may take longer to adjust to major changes in shift patterns (European Agency for Occupational Safety and Health, 2012). Costa and Sartori (2007) noted a pronounced deterioration in the health of shift workers over the age of 55 than in day workers and made recommendations which included limiting night work, shortening hours, increasing breaks and more frequent health checks for older shift workers. Some studies have suggested that it is the cumulative effects of doing night shifts over a number of years that has an effect on health rather than age. Younger workers adapting to shift work for the first time may need extra support. Pre-existing conditions Shift work may also exacerbate existing health problems such as diabetes, asthma, epilepsy and psychiatric illness. It has also been shown that some medications may not have the same effect on the body of a shift worker as they would for someone working a normal day schedule. Individual issues and lifestyle factors Individual factors such as lifestyle (for example diet, smoking, alcohol consumption), social factors, behaviour, 7 Return to contents
8 RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce family history as well as age and gender can contribute to the risk of ill health in shift workers. There is some evidence to suggest that shift workers are more likely to be reliant on drugs and stimulants to help them sleep or aid alertness for example sleeping pills, caffeine, pain killers or cigarettes. Social rhythms In addition to circadian rhythms, some authors describe the concept of social rhythms. Social life is based on shared rhythms of sleep, mealtimes, work and recreation. Shared meals and shopping, evenings with family, TV, weekend football matches, barbeques, celebrations, these are the glue that holds our social support networks together. Shift work brings a separation from these shared rhythms of general life and can separate the shift worker from family and friends. London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2004 Conclusions The above list of health conditions and risks may look daunting to those who have to work shifts as part of their job, but the good news is that there are steps that an employer and an individual can take to reduce the risks from shift work to health, safety and wellbeing. These are outlined later in this guidance. For some people, shift work has many benefits. In addition to the financial benefits of working unsocial hours, many find that shift work helps them better manage their caring responsibilities. Furthermore, travelling to and from work at off peak periods against the traffic or commuters and carrying out routine domestic tasks at less busy periods are all reasons people prefer shift work. There is also some evidence to suggest that those who do not adapt well both physically or mentally to shift work, will self-select jobs with more routine working hours. Social rhythms are important for psychosocial health and the predictability of patterns of work are a major issue for shift workers who need to be able to plan activities, social arrangements and caring responsibilities ahead. It is important that, wherever possible, shift systems run as planned to facilitate this. Return to contents 8
9 Royal college of nursing 2 Employer responsibilities A number of general and specific health and safety related laws and regulations are applicable to the management of shift work, and these are listed in Table 2. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recognises shift work as a workplace hazard that can present risks to both workers and the public; it expects employers to assess the risks from shift work and take action to reduce these risks. As shift workers have been found to have a higher level of sickness absence and increased susceptibility to minor ailments it also makes good business sense to reduce and manage the risks to shift workers. Employers also need to be mindful of the potential patient safety impacts of fatigue in shift workers and need to manage shift work as part of a package of measures to improve patient safety. Table 2: Health and safety laws and regulations Law Key requirements Application to shift work Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) Section 2 of the act places duties on employers to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees. Section 3 of the act places duties on employers to ensure work activities do not affect the health and safety public or others. Section 7 of the act places duties on employees to take reasonable care of their health and safety and that of others. Employers must carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments of all significant hazards in the workplace. Assessments must be carried out to identify any health and safety risks to new and expectant mothers and measures must be put in place to protect the employee and the unborn/new child. Places duties on employers to manage working hours through limits on the working week and night work. The regulations detail requirements for employers to provide in work, daily and weekly rest breaks and health assessments for night shift workers. The employer has a duty to protect shift workers and patients who may be affected by fatigue or the health impacts of shift patterns. Employees should also raise concerns in circumstances where fatigue presents a risk to them or patients. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code also places duties on nurses and midwifes (see page 24 of the Code). Shift work is a hazard and employers need to assess the risks of shift work and put in place measures to reduce the risks of shift work on the health and safety of employees. Night shift and long working hours are recognised as risks to pregnant workers. If a specific risk has been identified to the pregnant worker and/or her GP/midwife provides a certificate stating she should not work nights, her employer must offer suitable alternative day time work on the same terms and conditions. If that is not possible, the employer must suspend her from work on paid leave for as long as is necessary to protect her health and safety and/or that of her child. Suitable rest facilities should also be provided for expectant mothers and those who are breastfeeding. Employers must ensure that shift working patterns are compliant with the working time regulations. Night shift workers must be offered free health assessments at regular intervals. If, in the view of a registered medical practitioner, a worker is suffering from health problems that are caused by or made worse by night work the employer should transfer him or her to day work. Further information on the specific requirements of the Working Time Regulations can be found in Appendix 2. 9 Return to contents
10 RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 Safety Representative and Safety Committee Regulations 1977 These regulations detail employers duties to provide a safe physical work environment and welfare requirements such as toilets, and rest areas. The law requires that suitable and sufficient and readily accessible rest facilities are provided for workers. Employers must consult with safety representatives on matters affecting the health and safety of staff. Employers must allow safety representatives paid time off to: inspect documents relating to health and safety investigate reportable incidents and complaints from members inspect the workplace set up a health and safety committee. Where workers regularly eat meals at work, suitable and sufficient facilities should be provided for the purpose. Such facilities should also be provided where food would otherwise be likely to be contaminated. Work areas can be counted as rest areas and as eating facilities, provided these are adequately clean and there is a suitable surface on which to place food. Facilities should include a facility for preparing or obtaining a hot drink. Where hot food cannot be obtained in or reasonably near to the workplace, workers may need to be provided with a means for heating their own food (for example, a microwave oven). Shift work patterns or consultations on changes in shift work patterns must involve safety representatives, as changes have the potential to impact on the health and safety of members. Driving and fatigue Workers who drive during their working hours, such as community nurses, are also covered by health and safety laws and employers need to assess the risks associated with fatigue and driving during work hours in shift workers. Health and safety regulations do not extend to commuting to and from the workplace but employers have a common law duty of care to employees. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) recognises drivers who work shifts as being a high risk group for fatigue-related car accidents, especially at the end of a night shift or a long shift (RoSPA, 2011). Equalities Act Employers also need to be aware of their responsibilities to all workers under the Equalities Act 2010 (EA10). Workers with long-term conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy may be classified as disabled under the Equalities Act. Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to the employment of disabled workers so, for example, if a condition is exacerbated or difficult to control due to shift working patterns the employer would be required to make changes to those working arrangements as a reasonable adjustment to support the worker. Such a reasonable adjustment could be adjusting the shift pattern or amount of shift work undertaken, for example, for an employee with epilepsy whose seizures are triggered by a lack of sleep. The EA10 provides protection against discrimination in the workplace on a number of grounds, and sensible employers will want to ensure that the allocation of shift working and work arrangements in general does not place any one group of staff at a disadvantage. Effective monitoring is required for this and regular pay audits that track unsocial hours payments or overtime allowances can also be useful. It should be noted that although age is a protected characteristic under EA10, the requirement to make reasonable adjustments to working arrangements only applies to disability. Return to contents 10
11 Royal college of nursing 3 Shift work risk assessments 1. Have a system in place Organisations should have systems in place to manage the health and safety risk of shift work. One of the biggest challenges and culture shifts may be to get health service employers to recognise shift work as a health and safety issue, so it is important that senior mangers are aware of the risks and their legal duties under health and safety related laws in addition to being compliant with the Working Time Regulations. The HSE advises that clear policies and procedures should be put in place for managing shift work arrangements. It also recommends ensuring that people throughout the organisation, no matter how large or small, are aware that preventing or limiting the risks of shift working needs to be considered at all levels of planning. Organisations need to familiarise themselves with the risks of shift working and the legal requirements. Health care organisations need to take a collaborative approach to shift work planning and management by involving occupational health and health and safety advisers, human resource advisors and clinical risk leads. In addition, safety representatives must be consulted and fully involved in the process, and they will need to work alongside stewards where changes in shift patterns are being proposed. In organisations that do not recognise trade unions, or where there are no safety representatives, staff will still need to be consulted on measures that have the potential to affect their health and safety. Giving staff a choice and a voice in shaping their shift working patterns is essential for maintaining or improving morale, reducing turnover of staff and absenteeism. The HSE advises the creation of a working group of internal stakeholders to look at shift working arrangements and review whether the risks to health and safety are being managed. 2. Assess the risks and establish who may be harmed The risk of fatigue related incidents and health impacts on workers need to be assessed. The HSE requires a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to be carried out under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) and employers need to gather and evaluate information about current shift working arrangements in the organisation. Quantitative data on accident rates, near misses, sickness absence, data on overtime (unpaid and paid) and patient safety incidents such as drug errors can help inform the assessment. If available, data and trends on the time of day of an incident can help to identify issues with shift patterns. Qualitative data such as information from exit interviews, appraisals and discussions with safety representatives can also be used. There are a range of survey tools available to assist in gathering data such as the HSE s Fatigue and Risk Index Tool and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (see the Further information and resources section on page 25 for more details on these tools). While all workers are at risk from shift work some groups may be more vulnerable than others, these include: young workers adapting to shift work for the first time older workers pregnant workers those with pre-existing health conditions which may be made worse by shift work and those who take time dependent medication (for example, insulin) on call workers who follow a shift with a period of on call agency or bank nurses who may be subject to different shift patterns from the different organisations they work in. The risks to members of the public and patients should also be considered in the risk assessment. The HSE also points out that individuals are not good at assessing how fatigued they are, so it is essential that employers monitor the risks (HSE, 2006). 11 Return to contents
12 RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce 3. Take action to reduce the risks The HSE has developed a number of evidence-based risk reduction strategies which are detailed in tables within Appendix 1 on pages These are classified into different areas and provide a holistic and comprehensive approach to risk reduction. Areas that need to be addressed in order to reduce the risks include: workload high workloads are a major contributor to stress and fatigue work activity the type of work carried out (for example, repetitive or sedentary); in nursing this will vary according to practice environments shift patterns the benefits and drawbacks of different types of shift patterns timing of shifts looking at issues around night shift starting times duration of shift looking at the length of the shift and the risks associated with long shifts rest breaks within shifts and between shifts outlining good practice and the requirements of the Working Time Regulations physical environment looking at factors such as access to facilities, lighting and temperature which can contribute to fatigue in shift workers management issues exploring the role of training, supervision and communication welfare exploring the role of occupational health in supporting shift workers. Learning from other sectors: The health care sector can learn a lot from other industrial sectors which have learnt lessons from major disasters and developed systems to manage the risks of fatigue and improve the health of shift workers. For example, a UK refinery put in place: a shift worker and family education programme was set up led by occupational health, to improve staff understanding of the risks from shift work, and the key control and personal measures that can be taken to reduce them to improve resource management a training plan was developed to capture known and projected sickness and light duties, priority training, turnarounds, day assignments and retirements. This much improved control of training and caused much less disruption on shifts when staff are released the introduction of a key performance indicator (KPI) for managers which tracks monthly staff time as a health check including overtime and sickness. Source: Wilkinson and Rudd (2011) Key good practice guidelines on shift work design Rather than spending time and effort looking for the perfect shift system, managers would be better placed managing and monitoring what they have. Make sure you have enough staff, and in the right places, for the work to be done and to cover foreseeable peaks such as upsets, emergencies, absence, illness, training and project cover. Predictability of the pattern they work is a major issue for shift workers. Managing shift systems to run as planned is therefore very important. Predictability is equally important for managers and supervisors so they are not running around to fill the gaps every week. If you are going to change your system, don t do it too quickly. Reviews of shift patterns can and should take some time and actively involve key staff. Beware specialist fatigue/shift work businesses selling you their services and products get a grip on what you ve got first and engage staff. Return to contents 12
13 Royal college of nursing Choose different numbers of shift teams so that you can build in spare capacity for training, absence and illness cover in other words an extra shift. Plan a workload that is appropriate for the length and timing of the shift. If reasonably practicable, schedule a variety of tasks to be completed during the shift and allow workers some choice about the order in which they need to be done. Avoid scheduling demanding, dangerous, monotonous and/or safety-critical work during the night, early morning, towards the end of long shifts and during other periods of low alertness. Avoid placing workers on permanent night shifts. If possible, offer workers a choice between permanent and rotating shift schedules. Where possible, adopt a forward rotating schedule for rotating shifts rather than a backward-rotating shift schedules. Either rotate shifts very quickly (for example, every two to three days) or slowly (for example, every three to four weeks) and avoid weekly/fortnightly rotating shift schedules. If not strictly necessary for business needs, try to avoid early morning starts before 7am. Where possible, arrange shift start/end times to be convenient for public transport or consider providing transport for workers on particular shifts. Limit shifts to a maximum of 12 hours (including overtime) and consider the needs of vulnerable workers. Limit night shifts or shifts where work is demanding, monotonous, dangerous and /or safety critical to eight hours. Consider if shifts of variable length or flexible start/end times could offer a suitable compromise. Avoid split shifts. Encourage and promote the benefit of regular breaks away from the workstation. Where possible allow workers some discretion over when they take a break, but discourage workers from saving up their break time in order to leave earlier. In general, limit consecutive working days to a maximum of five to seven days and make sure there is adequate rest time between successive shifts. Where shifts are long (over eight hours), for night shifts and for shifts with early morning starts, it may be better to set a limit of two to three consecutive shifts. When switching from day to night shifts or vice versa, allow workers a minimum of two nights full sleep. Build regular free weekends into shift schedules. Sources: Adapted from Health and Safety Executive (2006); Rudd and Wilkinson (2011) Shift duration 12-hour versus eight-hour shifts There has been much debate over the benefits and risks of eight hour shifts versus 12-hour shifts both within nursing and occupations outside health care. Evidence on the impacts on patient outcomes and staff safety are often conflicting. The Working Time Regulations (WTR) are not specific on the length of a shift, but generally require workers to have an 11-hour rest period between working days. The HSE points out that for the first eight or nine hours in a shift, the accident risk is constant, but after 12 hours, the risk approximately doubles and after 16 hours, it trebles (HSE, 2012b). Most of the research on accidents and working hours has been carried out in other industries where it is easier to measure the impact on productivity and errors, for example, counting the number of defective widgets per hour. However, working long hours clearly has the potential to impact on patient and staff safety in health care environments as we know fatigue can lead to slower reaction times, decreased vigilance, impaired problem solving ability and can affect memory and communication. RCN member surveys have found that the majority of staff prefer 12-hour shifts, as they need to do fewer shifts and have more days off (RCN, 2009). The HSE also confirms that 12-hour shifts are popular as these make the working week shorter and may offer subsequent health and social benefits. However, the HSE also highlights that any benefits to health and wellbeing are likely to be lost if the worker takes on overtime or a second job during their free time (HSE, 2006). The HSE advises caution in introducing shifts that are longer than eight hours in environments where the work is demanding, safety-critical or monotonous, and/or there is exposure to work-related physical or chemical hazards, pointing out that fatigue is a risk towards the end of the shift. If 12-hour shifts are to be introduced, the HSE recommends regular in-work rest breaks and a limit on 12-hour night shifts to two to three consecutive nights. 13 Return to contents
14 RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce Health care workers who have more than one job and choose to regularly work more than 48 hours a week need to check what their employment contract/s says on working hours and ensure that they have signed an opt-out agreement so the employer/s can monitor hours of work under the WTR. Nurses also need to be vigilant of the impact of fatigue on their professional practice (see the NMC code, page 21). This may also mean that the employer may prohibit additional shifts, if there is a concern about fatigue. An RCN survey (2008) found that 45 per cent of respondents worked 12-hour shifts so this is already a reality in many nursing environments. However, what is of concern is the amount of overtime, often unpaid across the nursing workforce, pushing a 12 hour shift into a 13 or 14 hour shift with a drive home at the end. Three quarters of all respondents to the latest RCN employment survey report working additional hours on at least one shift each week, and 40 per cent do so several times a week. The survey also shows that when nursing staff do work overtime, it is not just the odd hour here and there, in fact two thirds told us they usually work two or more hours a week (2011). There is evidence that 12 hour shift systems are on the increase and concerns are that cost savings are the primary driver for introducing the system as opposed to improving patient safety and the health, safety and wellbeing of staff. Safety of patients and staff must be considered if 12 hour shifts are to be implemented. In addition to consultation with staff and their representatives on proposed changes to shift working patterns and risk assessing the proposals, the RCN suggests that the following safeguards are put in place: the shift should be no longer than 12 hours if a 12-hour shift system is to be introduced it should be limited to two to three days/nights in a row and be compliant with the WTR ensure that there are adequate rest breaks during the 12-hour shift and that there is sufficient cover for staff to take their rest breaks to reduce the risk of fatigue the minimum legal requirement of a 20 minute minimum rest break allowance required under the WTR will not be enough during a 12-hour shift ensure that there is adequate time for handover cost savings should not be the primary driver for introducing the system; the safety of patients and staff must be considered pilot new shift systems first and survey staff on their perceptions safe staff-to-patient ratios must be met shift systems should be closely monitored and reviewed avoid scheduling safety critical jobs (for example, drug rounds) towards the end of the shift when staff will be at risk of fatigue and errors shift systems should be closely monitored and reviewed as part of a risk assessment process consider the journeys staff have to travel to and from work and the impact that this can have on their safety consider the specific risks to staff that are peripatetic during the 12-hour shift and drive between sites/ patient s homes, particularly where the geographical area is large respect days off and do not call in staff to work on their scheduled days off improve the physical layout and working environment to remove some of the stressors that contribute to fatigue ensure access to hot food and drinks and rest areas consider making 12 hours optional and have other shift systems (for example, eight hours) alongside 12-hour shifts consider that some workers may be more vulnerable to the risks of 12-hour shifts than others for example pregnant workers or those with long term conditions and that further advice will need to be sought from occupational health providers consider methods of communicating and training staff on 12-hour shifts. Scheduling meetings or training at either end of a shift is not appropriate and can add to fatigue. Return to contents 14
15 Royal college of nursing Power napping during night shift breaks In 2006, the Royal College of Physicians recommended that junior doctors working the night shift should take a power or restorative nap of between minutes to reduce the risk of fatigue. The evidence-based guidelines state that a nap during the night is essential for maintaining vigilance and alertness. Further studies have recommended power napping as having a positive effect on concentration levels and the speed of reflexes. A qualitative study of critical care nurses in Canada found that 10 out of 13 nurses who regularly napped during breaks reported several benefits including improved energy, mood, decision-making and vigilance. Researchers also identified organisational and environmental barriers to napping during breaks, including the perceptions of managers and colleagues and a lack of appropriate facilities (Fallis et al., 2011). Employers need to consider the evidence base promoting the benefits of power napping and develop policies and appropriate resources to support power napping in nursing staff, including a suitable area/space in which to take the power nap. Health care workers need to be aware of their local policies and should not sleep on night duty breaks unless they have prior permission to do so by their organisational policy or in writing from their manager or supervisor. 4. Check and review arrangements Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of risk reduction measures is an essential part of the risk management process. Organisations need to assess whether measures put in place are effective. Table 3 provides some suggested measures for assessing the effectiveness of shift systems in different areas. Table 3: Assessment measures Indicator Fatigue Sleepiness at work Accidents, near misses and serious untoward incidents Absenteeism Staff turnover Employee welfare Performance and productivity Quality of work/life balance Examples of performance measures Use assessment tools, for example the HSE fatigue index. Use assessment tools such as the Epworth sleepiness scale. Do records show a reduction in incidents? Do records show a decrease in absenteeism? Do records show a decrease in staff turnover? Use focus groups and interviews to determine if workers view shift working arrangements positively. Have performance/productivity measures improved? Patient-related complaints can also be used as an indicator. Annual staff survey results. 15 Return to contents
16 RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce 4 The role of safety representatives Safety representatives have an important role to play in supporting members who work shifts and ensuring that any risk to the health and safety of shift working members are addressed and minimised by the employer. The HSE stresses the importance of employers consulting and involving safety representatives in the risk assessment process and as a vehicle for getting the views of the workforce on the advantages and disadvantages of current shift systems. Working with safety representatives, the HSE suggest that employers seek views and stimulate discussion by: encouraging workers to share their experiences of shift work discuss which shifts are hardest and why provide examples of different shift work schedules and invite contributions of ideas. If surveys or questionnaires are being used it is good practice to develop these with safety representatives, as staff may be suspicious if employers are asking questions around fatigue, sleepiness and health problems. Any proposed changes to shift work patterns can be stressful for employees as many plan caring responsibilities and arrangements around their shift work. As reviews or changes to shift working patterns can affect members terms and conditions, it is essential that safety representatives work alongside stewards, and that stewards recognise the important role that safety representatives have to play in the process. Checklist for safety representatives Encourage members to share their experiences of shift work and represent their concerns in discussions with employers. Find out whether your employer has assessed the risk of shift-work patterns. Raise awareness of the risks by using RCN, HSE and other guidance. Ensure that your employer has identified vulnerable workers and supported accordingly. Ensure that you are involved in any review or proposed change to shift working. Check that proposed or current patterns are compliant with regulations and meet good practice recommendations. Ensure that fatigue-related risks to workers who drive at work are addressed by your employer. Ensure that employers have systems in place for supporting shift workers who are suffering from fatigue and have to drive home. Ensure that employers have systems in place to offer health checks to night-shift workers. Work with occupational health and others to promote and support members and other health care workers to develop strategies to cope with shift work. Work with stewards and other trade union colleagues to ensure that potential health and safety issues and risks are recognised and addressed. Encourage members to report fatigue-related incidents (including near misses). Encourage members to report and seek support from occupational health and their GP if they are suffering health problems that may be related to shift patterns. Investigate incidents or near misses affecting the health and safety of members (ideally this is done jointly with the employer, but safety representatives have a right to carry out an independent investigation). Encourage employers to identify times of day in reports on incident trends, and ensure that incident trends are reported to the health and safety committee. Ensure that fatigue is picked up as a potential factor in investigations around patient safety incidents. Return to contents 16
17 Royal college of nursing 5 Practical strategies for shift workers It s 7am Saturday morning, you finish a busy night shift that included two arrests. You re developing a headache and feel nauseous as you last grabbed some food at midnight. On the way home, someone cuts across you on the road, nearly sending you into a crowded bus stop. As you pull into the drive, you remember that you forgot to mail an overdue credit card bill. You enter your home, trying to be quiet but you stumble over some toys in the hallway and the kids wake up and want to see you. Your partner wakes up and wants to spend some time with you.. and there s the house to tidy up and the laundry to do. After all that, you crawl into bed and hope for some decent sleep, because you have to be back at work for another shift. Then the phone rings we ve all been there! This scenario may sound familiar to many nurses and health care workers who regularly work night shifts and have to wear many hats outside work. In this scenario there are many things that an employer could do to reduce risk, including ensuring there is enough cover for staff to take be able to take breaks and have access to healthy food, and that shift patterns follow good-practice guidelines and comply with the minimum requirements of the WTR. Night shift work can be a daunting experience for a newly-qualified nurse or health care assistant. There are usually fewer people around to call on and you may be the most senior nurse on duty. It is inevitable that you will feel more tired and sleep less than on daytime shifts, but with the support of colleagues and by following some simple do s and don ts, you can make life easier for yourself. People adapt differently to shift work and you need to find a sleep pattern and routine that suits you best it may take some time and you may need to experiment to find out what works for you. Sleep hygiene Sleep hygiene is defined as habits and practices that are conducive to sleeping well on a regular basis. It is important to get into good habits and practices, regardless of whether you are sleeping during the day or at nights. Keeping to a regular sleep schedule in other words, going to bed at the same time and waking up the same time is recommended as a way to promote good sleep. However, for obvious reasons, this can be difficult for a shift worker. Examples of some sleep dos and don ts are listed on page 18. Many of these are common sense, but if you are having difficulties sleeping it may be worth reviewing what you are doing at bedtime. However, there are a number of issues that the employer has limited control or influence over and there are strategies that an individual shift worker can follow to help themselves. 17 Return to contents
18 RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce Table 4: Sleep dos and don ts Dos Develop a bedtime ritual that you follow before you go to sleep relax with a book, listen to music or take a bath. This can help serve as a signal that your body is ready for sleep. Keep your bedroom as cool as possible people sleep better in cooler environments (around 18 degrees C). Eat a light meal before going to bed to avoid hunger. Regular exercise during the day helps sleep patterns but try to avoid exercise about three hours before bedtime. Keep the bedroom dark use an eye mask, blackout blinds or heavy curtains (or even a thick blanket) on your bedroom window. Even if you don t work nights it can get very light in the early mornings during British summertime. Keep the bedroom quiet use ear plugs if necessary. Write a to do list before you go into the bedroom so you don t lie awake worrying that you will forget important things the next day (a pen and paper by the bed can also help). Use a relaxation tape to help you sleep. Invest in a good mattress or at least some decent pillows seek manufacturer s advice on the best type of pillow for you and your usual sleeping position. Don ts Avoid stressful or stimulating activity before you go to bed. Avoid alcohol or nicotine in the hour or two before sleep. Alcohol might make you feel sleepy, but it will wake you up too quickly after falling asleep. Nicotine is a stimulant and may affect the time it takes you to get to sleep. Don t drink caffeine for up to four hours before going to bed. Avoid a heavy or fatty meal before bedtime as they are harder to digest. Avoid watching TV, video games, studying, playing or working on a computer in the bedroom. If you can t avoid this as you live in a bed sit or shared accommodation think about having distinct areas in your room such as a desk which you can close off and a cupboard to store study material. Don t use another persons sleeping pills. Don t try and force yourself to sleep sleep is a passive process. If you can t sleep, after 30 minutes in bed get up and do something to distract yourself. Avoid falling to sleep on the sofa. Avoid clock watching watching the clock can increase anxiety about length of sleep. Set your alarm if necessary and turn your clock away from your sight line. Avoid difficult conversations with loved ones or confrontational discussions before bedtime wherever possible. Sleeping during the daytime An essential aspect of being a successful night worker is learning how to manage your daytime sleep. The strategies outlined in Table 4 can help but there may be other things you can do to promote daytime sleep. These include: turn off mobile phones, disconnect landlines and consider putting up a do not disturb notice on the bedroom door if at all possible locate your bedroom in a quieter part of the house (at the back of the house if you are located on a major road, for example) blackout blinds or thick curtains can really help reduce daytime light, while using ear plugs can reduce noise; background white noise also helps some people ask family and friends at home to make sure it is a peaceful place during the day consider speaking to neighbours and let them know you work nights allow some time to unwind when returning home after a night shift (as you would after a day shift). try not to panic if you can t sleep follow the strategies in Table 4. If you are new to night-shift working, ask friends and family for their tips on coping but remember to stick to the principles of good sleep hygiene. Return to contents 18
19 Royal college of nursing Preparing for the first night It is recommended that shift workers get extra sleep before working the first night shift to reduce sleep debt. If you don t sleep before your first shift you could end up being awake for 24 hours or more. A longer lie in to at least midday the morning before you start is recommended as is a late afternoon nap of at least two hours or more to reduce the build up of fatigue on your night shift (Royal College of Physicians, 2006). Strategies to adopt during your shift Night workers report that getting through the first night is usually easy but by the second or third night fatigue begins to set in particularly if you are having difficulties sleeping. Here are some strategies to follow to help you survive during the shift (Ross, 2011). Some people find it good to eat their main meal before going onto the shift and having a lunch half way through their shift and another light meal when they get home, while others prefer to take lots of healthy snacks to eat. Eating small amounts and often throughout the night will help keep your energy levels up. Find out what works best for you but avoid a heavy meal before going to sleep. Keep moving during your shift if you do have any downtime then walk about and stretch. Keep hydrated but don t drink too much caffeine avoid caffeine towards the end of your shift as it can hinder sleep when you get home. The effects of a cup of coffee can start being felt within as little as 20 minutes and may last up to three or four hours depending on the strength of the drink and your individual tolerance. Too much coffee can also irritate the gastric system and have a diuretic affect. Remember it is not only coffee that contains caffeine; cola drinks, tea and some over-thecounter pain killers or cold remedies can also contain caffeine. Chat to co-workers during down time keep your mind active by chatting to colleagues. Power napping and rest breaks There is increasing evidence on the restorative and fatigue reducing benefits of a short minute power nap during a night shift. Shift working guidance for junior doctors allows for power naps and calls it an indispensable part of working safely overnight (Royal College of Physicians, 2006). However, as members have been disciplined for being asleep on duty, you are advised to seek advice from your manager or RCN safety representative on whether your local policy allows a power nap. You should always seek prior approval, preferably in writing, from your manager or supervisor before taking a power nap during your scheduled break. As a minimum, your employer should allow night shift workers a 20 minute break away from the workstation if the shift is longer than six hours. Away from the workstation could mean a staff room or on-site rest area, but you may not be able to go off site. If you are unable to take your break way from the workstation during a night shift, then raise the issue with your manager or safety representative. If an emergency has led to you being unable to take your break, your employer should provide you with compensatory rest as per the Working Time Regulations (see Appendix 2 on page 36). Circadian nadir This is the time when your natural body clock is at its lowest between 3am and 6am. Night workers often associate this time with feeling cold, shaky and nauseous, as well as sleepy/drowsy. This is a normal reaction and the body is programmed to be least active at this time and it can be difficult to stay awake especially if the work demands are low. Eat or drink something warm (avoiding caffeine too late in the shift) during this period and try to keep busy. If you are able to, try and schedule a restorative power nap during this period. 19 Return to contents
20 RCN guidance on the occupational health and safety of shift work in the nursing workforce Getting home safely The end of a night shift is recognised as a high-risk period for car accidents particularly towards the end of a few back-to-back shifts. If you are dependent on a car to get you to and from work then be vigilant to the risks of fatigue. If you do feel yourself falling asleep at the wheel pull off the road if it is safe to do so and have a short nap. Avoid driving for a long period or a long distance after a period of night shifts or long working hours. While it may be tempting to travel directly to visit family and friends and spend your days off with them, it would be advisable to have a rest or sleep first and travel later in the day. If you feel too tired to drive then speak to your manager and see if a contingency plan can be put in place, such as giving you access to somewhere to sleep for a few hours or arranging a first aid driver to take you home. Remember, your employer owes you a duty of care. If you can, it may be better to use public transport or consider lift sharing with co-workers and take it in turns to drive. Not only will this help reduce travel costs, it will also help keep you alert if someone else is in the car. If you are starting or finishing work late at night make sure you can park your car in a secure and well-lit area. If you have concerns about your personal safety when travelling to and from work on a night shift or any unsocial hour, speak to your manager or an RCN safety representative. Coming off nights and back onto day shifts Adjusting back to days can be difficult and it is important that your shift pattern allows enough time to recover from night shift work before going onto the next shift. Have a short sleep when you get home from your last shift to get over some fatigue. Try and do normal daytime activities when you wake up and go to bed at your regular time that night to get back into a routine. Looking after your health In addition to the tips for surviving the night shift and getting good sleep, it is important to try and look after your general health as shift workers can be more susceptible to illness and poor health. Psychosocial health working shifts that differ from family and friends can leave you feeling isolated. It is important to try and continue as much of a social and family life as possible and not to neglect your relationships. Make your family and friends aware of your shift schedule so that they can include you when planning social activities. Make the most of your time off plan meal times, weekends and evenings together. Invite others who work similar shifts to join you in social activities when others are at work and there are fewer crowds. Health and Safety Executive, 2006 Healthy lifestyles shift workers can be more at risk from gastrointestinal complaints, diabetes and cardiovascular problems so a healthy diet and regular exercise are important. Lack of access to healthy foods during shift times or a lack of rest breaks can make this a challenge and employers also need to do more to support shift workers in making healthy lifestyle choices. Finding the time and motivation to exercise can be a challenge for shift workers but exercise can improve cardiovascular as well as mental health. Smoking can also increase the risk of heart disease and other health conditions in shift workers. Breast care it is important for female shift workers to be breast aware and if eligible for mammography screening to take up these opportunities. Use of stimulants/sedatives shift workers often use stimulants such as coffee, cigarettes, high energy drinks to keep them awake and alcohol or sleeping pills to help them sleep. However the effects of both stimulants and sedatives are only short term and can lead to the risk of dependence, addiction and physical health problems. Return to contents 20
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European Union officials are "activating all diplomatic channels" to press home their concerns that looming U.S. energy sanctions against Russia could impact Europe's energy supplies.
U.S. lawmakers are scheduled to consider the sanctions package as early as Tuesday, and the bill could be sent to President Donald Trump before Congress breaks for the August recess. The measures are aimed at punishing Moscow for meddling in the presidential election and its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria.
Germany and Austria have criticized the penalties, saying they could affect European businesses involved in piping in Russian natural gas.
European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said Monday that the EU's executive arm is "following this process with some concern regarding the European Union's energy independence and our energy security interests."

subset: commoncrawl


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To teach front end estimation to elementary math students, review how to isolate the first digit of a number, provide practice in rounding the first digit, and check students' understanding of how to complete the required operation. Use a combination of group tasks and individual work to accomplish these goals.
Keeping in mind the overall objective of developing students' ability to use front end estimation, address each sub-objective in a clear and thorough manner. First, write some large numbers on the board, and call on various students to identify the first digit of each number.
Secondly, divide students into teams. Give each team a stack of cards with a number on one side and the rounded number on the other side. Each team member takes a card, rounds the first digit of the number, changes all the other digits to zeros, and checks their rounded number with the answer on the back of the card. The team that finishes all their cards first wins.
Thirdly, assign a worksheet with a variety of front end estimation problems, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems. Remind students to round first and then perform the correct operation. SoftSchools.com provides worksheets, as of 2015


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reposted from @ibeandrea's Instagram
Why I'm blogging
- AnnA
- I was with the love of my life for nine years, eight months and sixteen days. We were married for 31 days. On our one month wedding anniversary, I discovered he had a girlfriend. I am now trying to navigate my life without him in it, and I don't quite know how to do it.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Labels: loss
2 comments:
- AnonymousNovember 30, 2011 at 6:41 AM
A lot of truth in this. Your bio says you're not sure how to do this. I think the photos and the writing are good paths. I wish you all the best.ReplyDelete
I so feel your pain. My husband of 35 yrs told me two nights before Thanksgiving that he was leaving me.... the tears I cry are not so much from missing him, but because I am now homebound and disabled, and the "what now?"s are keeping me up all night. Take care of YOU, Anna. Please remember it hurts real bad for a little while, but you will be glad he did this when you are young and able.ReplyDelete
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text:
Inayatullah Shah Sayed
Dr Sayed Inayatullah Shah received PhD degree in Medical Physics from King's College London, University of London, UK. He is currently working in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, Kulliyyah (Faculty) of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia. His contribution as a lecturer and researcher in University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan and Universiti Sains Malaysia also make up an important part of his academic and research career. Specifically his areas of research are Medical Physics, Medical Imaging and Radiation Protection.
Undoubtedly, 27 years of teaching and research has seen Dr. Sayed progress immensely as an academician and researcher. He has also proudly co-authored two books, Research Methodologies: A Practical Approach, (2011) and Research Methodologies, an Islamic Perspective (2015). In addition to that, Dr. Sayed holds the credit for publishing a number of impactful research articles in journals of national and international repute. He has also been a recipient of gold, silver, and bronze medals as a result of his outstanding research contributions in various areas of his respective field. Also, he has completed a couple of research projects and few are ongoing.