Shift work and its impact on worker health

We explore the constraints of shift work, its impact on worker health, and essential preventive measures to ensure safe and healthy work environments.

2026-07-30 · 7 minutos · Segurança no Trabalho

In the current labor market, adaptation has been a constant, not only regarding the expertise and training of individuals but also the availability requirements and the time factor.

The latter has gained relevance in sectors such as hydrocarbons, mining, and large project infrastructures (hydroelectric plants or energy network installation, among others). Two of the main reasons why many companies in these economic sectors demand total availability from their human talent for determined periods are related to geographical location and the nature of the activity.

Characteristics of shift work

Rotating shifts are a strategy used by companies to optimize operations. According to the needs and structure of the organization, discontinuous, semicontinuous, and continuous shifts can be defined. The main difference lies in the continuity of the operation.

According to the Portuguese legal framework outlined in Law no. 102/2009, of September 10 (which establishes the legal regime for the promotion of safety and health at work), amended by Law no. 3/2014, of January 28, the organization of working time must safeguard the health and safety of workers. However, in specific sectors, 24/7, 14/7, 30/10 shifts, and other configurations are observed that depend directly on the company's needs.

These shifts consist of a certain number of consecutive working days, including weekends and holidays, followed by a rest period. Unfortunately, these rest periods can be interrupted due to technical issues or changes in planning that require the employee to return to service.

This modality, besides often not having fixed schedules, presents relevant factors that generate a high impact on individuals, potentially increasing the risk level in each task. Some of these factors are associated with living together, food, work areas, areas of influence, and sudden changes in the workday, among other situations that may arise during the shift.

It is fundamental to consider and evaluate the emotional conditions of individuals subject to this type of shift to minimize and control the risks associated with this work model.

Impact on worker health

Shift work implies that the worker must modify their personal and social routines to adjust to the work dynamic. This extra effort of adaptation can represent a high psychosocial risk. Some important aspects related to shift work in the economic sectors mentioned are:

• Limitation of family and social interaction, which can generate distant interpersonal relationships.
• Temporary accommodation in spaces provided by the company, which sometimes do not offer the comforts people are used to at home.
• Sharing daily life (dormitories, canteens, social areas) with people from different cultures, behaviors, and needs, requiring a high level of tolerance for possible divergences.
• Limitation of food options and leisure activities, subject to the company's plan, restricting the worker's tastes and needs.
• Depending on the location, people may be exposed to public risk, difficult to control and which can generate anxiety in employees.
• Decreased ability to react to adverse family or social events, due to reliance on third parties for transportation or return procedures from the workplace.
• Permanent availability for technical, environmental, or safety and health emergencies, even outside working hours, as activities in these projects generally do not stop, and fatigue can manifest at any time.
• Night work, which causes changes in the biological clock.
• Demands of physical, mental, or emotional load related to the task and job responsibilities.

As a consequence, the worker may experience sleep disturbances and lack of rest, which can lead to chronic fatigue, chronic stress, burnout syndrome or, in the most severe cases, anxiety disorders and depression.

Furthermore, this work modality can generate changes in couple, family, and social dynamics, eating disorders and physical disorders, such as gastrointestinal disorders or reproductive disorders (changes in the menstrual cycle, among others).

Workers exposed to night shifts may increase the consumption of coffee, tobacco, and central nervous system stimulants to combat fatigue and low productivity, which can trigger physical health problems.

All factors that pose a risk to the individual must be considered, not only by the employer but also by the employee. Regardless of the perceived economic or professional benefits, these factors can generate significant short, medium, and long-term consequences for both the worker and the company. It is crucial to create strategies with a preventive approach, where each of these risk factors is evaluated, analyzed, and controlled.

Preventive measures

• Periodically assess risk and develop promotion, prevention, and intervention plans.
• In personnel selection, conduct an assessment of physical and mental health conditions and, if possible, analyze the individual's coping strategies.
• Seek to ensure that the choice of work shifts is discussed and agreed upon with the employee, based on complete and detailed information about their health status and individual needs.
• Respect biological wake-sleep rhythms as much as possible.
• Promote training in sleep hygiene.
• For workers accommodated in the field, ensure optimal eating conditions, with access to balanced, hot, and easily accessible meals.
• Promote healthy lifestyles and healthy work environments.
• Encourage strategies that promote self-esteem and effective family bonding.

Conclusion

Although many individuals have similar sociodemographic characteristics, not all have the same coping strategies to face the challenges associated with these shifts. Therefore, it is recommended that employers conduct a comprehensive analysis that goes beyond the expertise and training of individuals. Similarly, it is important for employees to consider the characteristics of this type of work and evaluate the different factors, so that this professional lifestyle proves beneficial in all areas of their life.