The Safety Concerns of Night Shift Schedule: Implications for Family, Homes and Human Health

Abstract

Wealth does not correlate with health, neither does the ability to work longer hours and the night shift determine the level of one’s wealth. It is important to consider health and safety first when accepting new job schedules or offers. This study investigates how night shift schedules have contributed to workers’ poor well-being, quality of life and marriages. One-hundred ninety-one night shift workers voluntarily participated in the study. Respondents were grouped into three age categories: 18-34, 35-54, and 55-74. Responses were quantified and statistical analyses were run on the data. Results revealed that 24% of the respondents responded to be depressed and 57% indicated to have low energy after working a night shift schedule. The risk of divorce among the married respondents was found to be 1-person in every 5-workers. Poor appetite revealed 1 out of every 3-workers and 1 out of 2-workers have the risk of losing interest in their usual activities. Approximately seventeen percent reported having very bad quality of life, while 39% declared to have average quality of life. Thirty percent of the respondents revealed having concentration problems after working night shift. The paired t-test result revealed that a night shift schedule has a statistically significant effect on the workers’ well-being who work on night shift (t = 16.13, df = 190, p < 0.0001). The level of divorce, poor quality of life, less interest in usual activities and health issues as a result of workers’ schedule suggest the need for better work schedule structuring. The findings from this study highlight potential damages night shift schedule has done to human well-being and life style in general. Findings from this study could help families to better avert or handle health issues at home and with their spouses.