Shift Work Schedule
Scott
E. Leishman
ASCI
638- Human Factors in Unmanned Aero Sys
Assignment
5.5
Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University-Worldwide
December
20, 2016
Introduction
Due to crew complaints a review of the current squadron’s
shift schedule, a 6 on and 2 off schedule has been evaluated and a proposal for
a new and improved schedule has been generated. The current schedule has been
found to be ineffective and detrimental to sleep patterns and is becoming
problematic due to added fatigue and stress.
During a study conducted in 2011 by Chappelle, Salinas, and McDonald, 1,464
UAS operators were studied and indicated their dissatisfaction with a 6 on and
2 off schedule, learning from this study has helped to create a better schedule
for the crew.
Problem
One of the challenges shift workers face is a type of schedule
is combating sleep against a clock (UCLA, 2016). We all have an internal clock,
our circadian rhythm, which help to regulate a majority of our body function,
any interference with this rhythm could lead to a decline in alertness, being
sleepy, change in hunger state, and our overall body temperature (UCLA, 2016).
Because non-standard hours can interfere with this rhythm, many shift workers
become deprived, lending a hand in poor performance. Some research indicates it can take up to
three years to become fully adapted to shift work, other research has indicated
that no one can fully acclimate to this rotational shift work (UCLA,
2016). While sleep deprivation that is
continual in nature can be alarming, shift workers can also be victims of shift
work disorder, which leads to depression, insomnia, and a difficulty in
concentrating (National sleep Foundation, 2016).
Rapidly rotating shifts has been
said to be detrimental in allowing the body adequate time to adjust to
circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycles) according to Burgress (2007). Burgress
also stated that circadian rhythm adjustments tend to occur rapidly within the
first few days of change, and continue to slow down thereafter when shift
changes less than 7 days occur, leading to no permanence in rhythm (Burgress,
2007). Because of this, the members that
use the current weekly rotation schedule are stuck in a continual phase of
circadian adjustment and suffer fatigue as a consequence. Burgress suggested
that the most optimal shift rotation schedule is one where the rotation is a
forward rotation, more specifically days, swings, nights (2007). While this
rotation is in use, the extent of its effectiveness is thwarted by the
briefness of the cycle.
Solution
In general there appears to be two
trains of thought when it comes to a rotating shift cycle, more so on night
shifts. One suggests that shifts that occur in short rotation, less than 3
days, while the other suggests long rotations, often two weeks or more. With
the short schedule the idea is that our bodies would not have time to adjust,
meaning circadian rhythm would not be interrupted. Alternatively, long cycles
would allow our bodies to fully adjust; consequently research does not indicate
which one is more preferred (American College, 2003). Having stated that, the
consensus across the boards remains the same when it comes to a 4-7 night cycle
of night shifts and should be avoided entirely, in part due to the fact the
body starts to adjust to a the new rhythm and then gets thrown into another cycle
(American College, 2003).
In order avoid this type of
scheduling, it is suggested to use a Metropolitan Rota schedule, where the cycle is repeated either during the longer
or shorter period. The Metropolitan Rota
is a 4/2x cycle where there are 2 day shifts, 2 swing shifts, followed by 2
night shifts, and that would conclude with 2 days off. In using this proposed schedule, a normal
shift of 8 hours would occur with no more than 48 hours occurring for a work
week, unless an emergency or contingency operation needed to ensue. While a 6
day work week could appear to be a negative, it is substantially better
compared to a 4 or 5 day work week with 12 hour shifts. Leveraging this proposed
schedule, in the event a crew member was absent, during each cycle operators
could cover a missing member by extending 4 hours beyond their shift, either in
the preceding or proceeding shift, which would allow the crew members to abide
by Air Force Instruction 11-202 Volume 3, General Flight Rules (USAF, 2014). The schedule would look like the following in
Table 1.
Table 1. Metropolitan Shift
Miller, J. (2012,
April). White paper: Shift plans with seven consecutive
shifts. Retrieved from
https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/crm/docs/Shift_Plans_with_Seven.pdf
References
AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 11-202 General Flight
Rules. (2014) (3rd ed., pp.
99-105). Retrieved from
http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/acc/publication/afi11-202v3_accsup_i/afi11-202v3_accsup_i.pdf
American College of Emergency Physicians. (2003). Retrieved 20 December 2016, from
https://www.acep.org/Clinical---Practice-Management/Circadian-Rhythms-and-Shift-Work/
Burgess, P. (2007). Optimal Shift
Duration and Sequence: Recommended Approach for Short-Term Emergency Response
Activations for Public Health and Emergency Management. Retrieved 20
December 2016, from
Chappelle, W., Salinas, A., & McDonald, K.
(2011). Psychological Health Screening of Remotely Piloted Aircraft
(RPA) Operators and Supporting Units (1st ed.). Wright Patterson AFB,
OH: USAF School of Aerospace Medicine. Retrieved from
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a582856.pdf
Miller, J. (2012). White Paper: Shift
Plans with Seven Consecutive Shifts (1st ed.). Retrieved from
https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/crm/docs/Shift_Plans_with_Seven.pdf
National Sleep Foundation. (2016). Sleepfoundation.org.
Retrieved 20 December 2016, from
https://sleepfoundation.org/shift-work/content/shift-work-disorder-%E2%80%93-symptoms
UCLA,. (2016). Coping with Shift Work. Sleepcenter.ucla.edu.
Retrieved 20 December 2016, from
http://sleepcenter.ucla.edu/coping-with-shift-work
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