5.4 - Research:
Shift Work Schedule
Greg D. Laxton
ASCI 638
– Human Factors in Unmanned Aeronautical Systems
Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University-Worldwide
12
February 2017
Introduction
Combatting the fatiguing schedules associated with shift
work is like battling jet lag for aircrew during long haul operations. The body
has a hard time adjusting to the new sleep schedule. A rule of thumb among
travelers, is that the body will require one day of adjustment for every hour
of the new time zone (Science Daily, 2013). My proposal is to gradually shift the work report
times for the MQ-1B squadron by one hour per day.
If the crews must change quickly between day, swing and
night schedules, there really is no way to avert significant fatigue. This is
what Schroeder found with his examination of FAA air traffic controllers. They
used a “2- 2-1” schedule, which correlated to higher fatigue in his study
(Schroeder, 2008).
Current Schedule Review
The four teams in the provided schedule have been placed
on a “6 on 2 off rotating shift schedule” by the MQ -1B squadron. This current schedule
has the teams in a rotation from day, to swing to night shift. There are six
days of work in a row, followed by two scheduled days off. The day shift from
0730-1600 is a normal work period and shouldn’t be contributing to the fatigue
claimed by the teams. The swing shift work hours from 1530-2400 is a little
harder on the body clock, but after two off days in the schedule, it should not
be contributing greatly to the complaints of fatigue. Lastly, the night shift
from 2330-0800, is the primary culprit. These hours are very difficult to
adjust to, even after two off days in the current schedule. This schedule is a
clockwise rotation, meaning the shifts become later, with each eight-day block.
Shift Work and Fatigue
Shift work is different from adjusting to new time zones
required as an international traveler, because in the new location, the sunrise
and sunset help the body cope with the new day/night schedule. During shift
work, in the same time zone, the natural light of sunrise and sunset is not in
sync with the body clock and the new work / rest schedule, which slows the
body’s adjustment. However, the idea of adjusting slowly, by one hour per day,
is sound and worth trying for this squadron.
The internal body clock “gradually
resets itself, at an average rate of an hour a day” (Merz, 2016). A more gradual
adjustment to the shift schedule, would benefit the four squadron teams. If the teams move one hour per day, it may
allow the internal body clock to more slowly adjust to the sleep / rest cycle.
I agree with Burgess (Burgess, M.D., M.P.H., 2007, p. S91), that a clockwise
rotation is preferred. Gradually moving the shift to the right appears to be
easier than earlier reporting each day.
Recommendation
My recommendation is to get rid of the day, swing and
night shifts, replacing them with 24 schedules, as noted in the attachment. In
my proposal, Team 1 would report as normal on day one and work from 0730-1600,
on day two, their schedule is one hour later, from 0830-1700, and so on. After six
work days, they would have two off. Each team would start on a different
rotation, but after 24 calendar days, they would be back to the beginning of
the schedule. Team 4 is the fill in team, where they do not precisely roll one
hour each day. They will have adequate rest when they switch day to night, etc.
I recommend assessing the fatigue levels of all four teams after three months
of this schedule to validate the new rotation.
References
Burgess,
M.D., M.P.H., P. A. (2007). Optimal Shift Duration and Sequence:
Recommended Approach for Short-Term Emergency Response Activations for Public
Health and Emergency Management. American Public Health Association, 97,
S88-S92.
Merz, B.
(2016, September 8). Resetting your circadian clock to minimize jet lag -
Harvard Health Blog - Harvard Health Publications. Retrieved from
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/resetting-your-circadian-clock-to-minimize-jet-lag-2016090810279
Schroeder, D.
(2008, June 17). Sleep/Wake Cycles and Performance of ATC Operators. Retrieved
from
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs200/media/aviation_fatigue_symposium/SchroederAppComplete.pdf
Science Daily. (2013,
August 29). Jet lag: Why the body clock is slow to adjust to time changes.
Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829124013.htm
| Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon | |
| Team | 1/0 | 1/1 | 1/2 | 1/3 | 1/4 | 1/5 | 1/6 | 1/7 | 1/8 | 1/9 | 1/10 | 1/11 | 1/12 | 1/13 | 1/14 | 1/15 | 1/16 | 1/17 | 1/18 | 1/19 | 1/20 | 1/21 | 1/22 | 1/23 |
| Team 1 | 07:30A-4P | 08:30A-5P | OFF | OFF | 11:30A-8P | 12:30P-9P | 1:30P-10P | 2:30P-11P | 3:30P-12A | 4:30P-1A | OFF | OFF | 7:30P-4A | 8:30P-5A | 9:30P-6A | 10:30P-7A | 11:30P-8A | 12:30P-9A | OFF | OFF | 3:30A-12P | 4:30A-1P | 5:30A-2P | 6:30A-3P |
| Team 2 | 3:30P-12A | 4:30P-1A | 5:30P-2A | 6:30P-3A | OFF | OFF | 9:30P-6A | 10:30P-7A | 11:30P-8A | 12:30A-9A | 1:30A-10A | 2:30A-11A | OFF | OFF | 5:30A-2P | 6:30A-3P | 07:30A-4P | 08:30A-5P | 9:30A-6P | 10:30A-7P | OFF | OFF | 1:30P-109 | 2:30P-11P |
| Team 3 | 11:30P-8A | 12:30A-9A | 1:30A-10A | 2:30A-11A | 3:30A-12P | 4:30A-1P | OFF | OFF | 07:30A-4P | 08:30A-5P | 9:30A-6P | 10:30A-7P | 11:30A-8P | 12:30P-9P | OFF | OFF | 3:30P-12A | 4:30P-1A | 5:30P-2A | 6:30P-3A | 7:30P-4A | 8:30P-5A | OFF | OFF |
| Team 4 | OFF | OFF | 9:30A-6P | 10:30A-7P | 7:30P-4A | 8:30P-5A | 9:30P-6A | 10:30P-7A | OFF | OFF | 5:30P-2A | 6:30P-3A | 3:30A-12P | 4:30A-1P | 1:30P-10P | 2:30P-11P | OFF | OFF | 1:30P-10P | 2:30P-11P | 11:30P-8A | 12:30A-9A | 9:30P-6A | 10:30P-7A |
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