ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates psychological response to different work schedules on offshore oil and gas installations. Performance and mood were evaluated before and after each shift using portable computerised tests. The effects of shift-work on performance, safety and well-being have been widely studied onshore but there is little information on this topic in the offshore oil industry. The health and safety problems of shift workers on offshore oil installations are unique to this population, since complete biological adaptation to night shift is seen with some schedules. Adaptation to night work does occur in those working a 14 night schedule and this confers a major benefit compared to schedules which involve changes from nights to days (or vice-versa) during the tour. Indeed, the results also confirm previous findings showing impairments at the start of the swing shift.
