ABSTRACT
As a result of the evolving 24-hour society, about 15-30% of the workforce works outside the normal business hours. About 15% of the workers in the United States are employed on shift work and of the European Union (EU) workforce, 19% are engaged in shift work that includes night work, with rather more men (23%) than women (14%) involved. Shift work is related to a wide range of public health problems ranging from poor sleep and accidents to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. Although the risk estimates for the outcomes are low (odds ratio [OR] ≤2), the extensive exposure of workers (about 20%) combined with the high prevalence of the diseases means that shift work is definitely among one of the most serious occupational health problems of our time. This chapter reviews the major health risk factors of shift work, its effects on productivity, and risk reduction strategies to alleviate the risks of shift work.
