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Document ID (ISN)67490
CIS number 96-1903
ISBN(s) 91-88530-42-6
Year 1996
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Åkerstedt T.
Title Wide awake at odd hours: Shift work, time zones and burning the midnight oil
Bibliographic information Swedish Council for Work Life Research, Box 1122, 1181 Stockholm, Sweden, 1996. 116p. Illus. 127 ref. Price: SEK 100.00.
Abstract Survey on sleep-waking patterns, particularly of sleep disturbances and consequent risks of accidents due to irregular working hours, especially in connection with night or early morning work shifts. Jet-lag can induce similar alterations of sleep cycles. Jet-lag affects both flight crews and passengers and its symptoms disappear after a few days. Sleep processes are explained together with the phases of deep sleep and dream sleep (also known as REM, i.e. rapid eye movements). The requirements and quality of sleep and the effects of its loss are described, pointing out that napping is a very effective way of compensation. The role of circadian rhythm is emphasized: this is determined by a clock-like structure in the hypothalamus and it generates alertness and good functioning capacity, but poor sleep, during the daytime, while at night it provides good sleep, but poor functional capacity and low body temperature. Alertness increases at the peak of the rhythm (late afternoon: approximately 5 p.m.) and is reduced to its lowest point in the early morning (approximately 5 a.m.). Due to the corresponding increase in the level of tiredness, work between 4 and 7 a.m. should be avoided if possible. ILO Recommendations, Swedish laws, EU directives. Discussion of insomnia and other sleep troubles.
Descriptors (primary) shift work; night work; air transport; sleep disturbances; circadian rhythm; sleep pattern
Descriptors (secondary) literature survey; Sweden; international agreements; European Communities; ILO
Document type E - Books, reports, proceedings
Country / State or ProvinceSweden
Subject(s) Ergonomics and work organization
Broad subject area(s) Physiology, ergonomics
Browse category(ies) Air transportation
Fatigue