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Shift Workers

Shift Workers

Written by W.E.U Admin on . Posted in Improving Working Lives.

Working night shifts causes chaos for people’s bodies and may result in long-term health problems, scientists have warned. Sleep researchers found that irregular shift work has a similar effect to severe jet lag or repeatedly missing sleep, damaging our health down to the level of our DNA.

DNA Disruption: A “Chrono-Chaos”

Professor Derk-Jan Dijk and Dr Simon Archer of the University of Surrey’s School of Biosciences and Medicine conducted a study at the Sleep Research Centre. They set 22 volunteers on “28-hour days,” shifting sleep patterns by four hours each night. Once these subjects adopted a routine similar to that of typical shift workers, blood samples revealed that their DNA was thrown into chaos.

“Over 97 per cent of rhythmic genes become out of sync with mistimed sleep, and this really explains why we feel so bad during jet lag or when working irregular shifts,” said Dr Archer. Professor Dijk added, “It’s chrono-chaos. Imagine a clock in every room of a house—all are now disrupted, leading to chaos in the household.”

Long-Term Health Consequences

Previous research has linked shift work and jet lag to negative side effects that emerge after several years of irregular schedules. The team believes these changes in rhythmic gene expression are likely contributors to long-term health issues.

Key risks for shift workers include:

  • Obesity and higher body mass index
  • Diabetes prevalence
  • Increased risk of mental health problems
  • Disruption of circadian rhythms and melatonin production

Findings from the Health Survey for England

The Health Survey for England defines shift work as any work outside 7 am to 7 pm. Its data revealed:

  • 33 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women carry out shift work.
  • 16–24-year-olds are most likely to work irregular hours.
  • Shift workers report more longstanding illnesses: 40 per cent of men and 45 per cent of women, compared to 36 per cent and 39 per cent respectively for day workers.
  • Average BMI for shift workers is 27.8 kg/m² versus 27.2 kg/m² for men and 26.8 kg/m² for women who do not work shifts.
  • Diabetes affects 10 per cent of shift workers, compared to 9 per cent of men and 7 per cent of women working normal hours.

Contributing Factors and Recommendations

Shift work disrupts the body’s internal clock, interferes with melatonin production, disturbs sleep, and causes fatigue. Irregular schedules also correlate with poorer dietary habits.

Rachel Craig, Research Director for HSE, suggested the rise in zero-hours contracts may be driving increased shift work, potentially placing greater demand on healthcare systems.

Recommendations for employers and employees:

  • Implement policies to mitigate negative health effects.
  • Encourage regular sleep patterns and healthy lifestyles.
  • Provide education about circadian rhythms and fatigue management.



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