According to the standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor, there are specific criteria that define what is considered to be a normal work shift. The Department of Labor defines a normal work shift as a work period that extends no more than eight consecutive hours during the day, for no more than five days per week. With this definition, any shift that requires an individual to work evening hours is not considered to be a normal work shift, according to the Depart of Labor.
While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration does specifically regulate night shift work, they do require certain hazard and health specific standards associated with working night shifts be adhered to. The truth is that there are certain hazards that are exclusive to night shifts or exacerbated during night shifts. It is important for businesses to ensure that they are providing the same level of safety for their night shift employees as they do for their day shift workers.
Proper Breaks and Meals
Because most people don’t eat during the late night hours, it may be assumed that no lunch break is necessary; however, both, the Depart of Labor and OSHA require that employees be afforded regular breaks for the purpose of reducing the possibility of fatigue. In addition to traditional lunch breaks, it is recommended that night shift employees be allowed to take frequent breaks for the purpose of stretching, changing position and refocusing.
Glow in the Dark Floor Tape
One common hazard for employees that work night shifts is reduced vision. Even when it comes to indoor jobs with lighting, the loss of external natural light does negatively impact vision. One way that employers can improve safety is by using glow in the dark floor tape to mark off paths throughout the facility.
Employee Monitoring
The human body has regular sleep cycles, and it is likely that working the night shift can disrupt the body’s normal sleep cycle, which can lead to an employee becoming sleepy. As the employee becomes sleepy, the chance for operator error increases drastically, and depending on the equipment being used, not only can the employee injure themselves, but they can also injure others. By implementing an employee monitoring system that requires checks on the status of employees on a regular basis, the management staff can detect when an employee may need to take an unscheduled break in order to rest and recover enough to finish their shift.
Adequate Staffing and Scheduling
One of the most effective tools to protect against employee fatigue is the use of adequate staffing practices that ensure that no one person is being overworked. Without adequate staffing, it can be difficult to facilitate proper breaking schedules, which can lead to employee fatigue, and subsequently operator error. In addition to ensuring that the shift is properly staffed, it is also recommended that employers provide employees a quiet and secluded area where they can rest. It is important for business owners and management to understand that when a person is new to the night shift, it can take as many as 10 days for their body to acclimate to the new schedule. By being sure to provide adequate staffing, employers will be able to give employees that are new to the shift the necessary rest they need as they adjust to the new shift.
Reducing Exposure to Workplace Hazards
In situations in which employees are working around chemicals or materials that are considered hazardous, it is the responsibility of the employer to limit the amount of exposure that each employee has with any type of workplace hazard. When there are inherent hazards, such as chemicals or certain materials, the employer will need to have a clear understanding of what the maximum exposure level and time for each hazard is, and they will have to ensure that no employee reaches that maximum, at any time.
Proper Training
One thing that all safety experts agree on is the need for continual quality training programs that train employees how to effectively, and expeditiously, identify hazards that they are likely to come in contact with on a particular job. In addition to being trained on how to identify the hazard, they must also be prepared to respond to the hazard in an appropriate manner.
There are hazards that are magnified during the night hours, and it is the responsibility of the employer to be aware of these hazards, and to properly prepare their employees to guard against these hazards. The aforementioned tips are a good place to begin for business owners to create a safe work environment for their employees.
