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Health experts call for action on night shifts
16/03/2009
Experts have called for greater recognition of the health dangers posed by long-term shift working.
BBC Radio Scotland's The Investigation looked into the risks associated with night shifts after discovering that Denmark has started paying compensation to women who developed breast cancer after working at night for many years.
Professor Andrew Watterson, an occupational health specialist at Stirling University, told investigators that shift working may pose a "big public health problem" that the UK does not tend to identify.
"The evidence has been good over a long period of time about cardiovascular disease and night work, gastro-intestinal problems and nights," he revealed.
"The damage is there, but we don't see it and we don't count it."
Ian Tasker, assistant general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, told the BBC that UK workers are not all getting the health checks they are entitled to by law.
He said: "We have a feeling that perhaps employers are taking the opportunity to ensure these health checks are not carried out or, if they are, it's very much a tick-box approach to it."
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently carrying out an investigation into the health risks posed by shift working, the conclusions of which may well be of interest to solicitors in Northern Ireland if they highlight a need for changes to employment law.
In the meantime, shift workers are advised to identify a suitable sleep schedule, use techniques to help them sleep properly and eat a healthy diet.
Contact us for legal advice
BBC Radio Scotland's The Investigation looked into the risks associated with night shifts after discovering that Denmark has started paying compensation to women who developed breast cancer after working at night for many years.
Professor Andrew Watterson, an occupational health specialist at Stirling University, told investigators that shift working may pose a "big public health problem" that the UK does not tend to identify.
"The evidence has been good over a long period of time about cardiovascular disease and night work, gastro-intestinal problems and nights," he revealed.
"The damage is there, but we don't see it and we don't count it."
Ian Tasker, assistant general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, told the BBC that UK workers are not all getting the health checks they are entitled to by law.
He said: "We have a feeling that perhaps employers are taking the opportunity to ensure these health checks are not carried out or, if they are, it's very much a tick-box approach to it."
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently carrying out an investigation into the health risks posed by shift working, the conclusions of which may well be of interest to solicitors in Northern Ireland if they highlight a need for changes to employment law.
In the meantime, shift workers are advised to identify a suitable sleep schedule, use techniques to help them sleep properly and eat a healthy diet.
Contact us for legal advice
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