Risks and consequences of working night shifts

Risks and consequences of working night shifts

Night shift workers:

• sleep less well and for shorter times in the day
• are less alert and perform less well than day shift workers5–9
• are more likely to make simple mistakes and avoidable errors, leading to increased risks to patient safety
• process information, particularly novel situations, slower
• have impaired alertness, vigilance and reaction time
• are more likely to make decisions that involve higher degrees of risk
• have increased risk of road traffic accidents after a shift10

Long-term effects of night shift working include:

• increased risk of primary sleep disorders
• increased risk of obesity and diabetes
• increased risk of cardiovascular disease11
• a possible relationship with increased incidence of cancer12