Investigating shift work disorder among workers of Hamadan Glass Factory in 2017

Z Shabanian; M Gholipour; M Amrollahi; N Hasheminejad

doi:10.18502/tkj.v12i4.5874

Z Shabanian MSc of Occupational Health, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
M Gholipour MSc of Occupational Health, Sari Health Center, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran
M Amrollahi MSc of Occupational Health, School of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
N Hasheminejad Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/tkj.v12i4.5874

Keywords: Shift Work, Health Disorders, Risk Factor, Survey Of Shift Workers Questionnaire, Glass Factory

Abstract

Introduction: Shift work is an occupational stressor that influences some workforce. The present study examined shift work disorders among people who work in Hamadan Glass Factory.

Materials and Methods: Participants included 210 workers (130 shift workers and 80 day-workers) of Hamadan Glass Factory. The survey of shift workers (SOS) was used to collect information on respondents’ demographic background, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, psychological disorders, sleep-related problems, musculoskeletal disorders, and adverse effects of shift work on individual, family, and social life. Other information was obtained by studying participating workers’ medical records in the same year. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.

Results: The results indicated significant relationships between shift work and variables such as sleeplessness, sleep quality and quantity, stomachache, and diet. Concerning background variables (age, work experience, and marital status), the results of the Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant relationship between age and musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal disorders. Moreover, the results of the Fisher test demonstrated a significant association between work experience and social problems; but none of these background variables were connected with sleep disorders. Considering the effect of shift work (morning, evening, and night) on personal, family, social life, and alertness, chi-square results revealed significance among the three shift-work types. Incidence was higher in night shifts than in morning and evening shifts.

Conclusion: The findings showed that shift work is more likely to lead to sleep disorders and gastrointestinal diseases, risk of diabetes, infectious diseases, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disorders than day-work. Shift workers encounter more social problems than novice shift workers.