September 24, 2006 | Posted By Diane Pfadenhauer | print this article

Perils of the Graveyard Shift

The number of workers working the graveyard shift - between midnight and 8:00 am - is on the rise.  The next time you run off to work in the morning to pick up that bagel, remember the person who was up all night so that you could have your morning meal.   While many work the graveyard shift out of convenience, such as to accommodate family needs, it is not without its challenges.  According to this Newsday article, the graveyard shift is often not as easy as we day workers might conclude:
  • The divorce rate for night-shift workers is as much as six times higher than the rest of the population.
  • Late shift work often leaves children without chaperones as children are often unsupervised by a sleeping parent.
  • Even if night workers do get sufficient sleep, their sleep is of less quality than those of us who sleep at night.  Because of our natural circadian rhythms, our body expects to sleep at night.  When we reverse it, we may sleep, but not as deeply.
  • Sleep apnea is twice as prevalent among night shift workers than the general population
  • Night workers are 20% more likely to suffer a severe accident at work.
  • 24 hours of sleep deprivation is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of .10.
  • Some studies show a higher rate of cancer, heart disease, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Despite all of these challenges, there are ways that organizations can schedule night shifts to help alleviate some of these concerns.  Then, of course, there's the shift differential.  Let's hope it makes up for all of these risks.