Predator Shift Work

Activity 5-4 Research – Shift Work Schedule  

     Numerous studies acknowledge the recuperative benefits of sleep. The value of good sleep is advantageous to overall well-being and especially helpful to the working class. Poor sleep habits or insufficient amounts of sleep manifest itself as fatigue or signs of degradation in the quality work. Data derived from the studies show regular amounts of quality sleep prior to work is essential to high quality performance and alertness in the workplace and promotes recovery from fatigue. Alternately, disruptions to a body’s normal circadian rhythm caused by shifting work schedule can have a cumulative negative effect requiring days to recover and return to normal rhythm (Orlady & Orlady, 2008). 
     
In support of a US Air Force MQ-1 Predator Squadron’s 24/7 mission, the UAS crews have been separated into 4 teams and put onto a continuous shift work schedule of 6 days on, 2 days off. Concerns over reports of extreme fatigue while conducting operations, and complaints of inadequate sleep due to the current shift schedule (Table 1) have been raised by the Squadron Commander who is requiring a change in the shift schedule while maintaining 24/7 coverage. At a glance this shift schedule shows a quick, forward-moving shift rotation every eight days. While the clockwise, forward-moving shift rotation is ideal and recommended because it is easier to change the sleep/wake cycle following a natural adaptive pattern of delaying the sleep schedule (Thorpy, 2010), the ratio between work and rest periods does not allow for enough recuperative sleep between rotations. Additionally, the rapid changeover in shifts disrupts the body’s ability to adapt to the change, causing an aggregate negative sleep-debt effect. 

Table 1. 6 On 2 Off Rotating Shift Schedule

Proposed Schedule 

     Given the 24/7 nature of the mission it is important to consider introducing more days off and less consecutive work days into the shift rotation. Giving workers extended time away from the job environment aids in recuperation and breaks the monotony of the extended work week of the previous shift schedule. An alternating [3-days on / 3-days off] – [2-days on / 2-days off] rotating shift schedule (Table 2) not only minimizes the consecutive number of work days but also provides an equal number of days off following each work shift. Increasing the number of hours worked in each shift to 12 hours is negligible because of the proposed schedule’s short duration, giving ample reciprocal days off in between shifts. 

Table 2. Alternating [3 On / 3 Off] – [2 On / 2 Off] Rotating Shift Schedule

     Mott et al. (1965) found that many consecutive evening or night shifts could impair the marital happiness of shift workers and may have negative effects on the school performance of children whose parents are both shift workers. To address this issue the schedule rotates after the third week to allow Teams 1 and 2 to rotate shifts with Teams 3 and 4. Additionally, the schedule allows each team to have up to three traditional weekends (Saturday and Sunday) off each month. Studies showed that weekends off were favored higher than weekdays, and time off in the evenings are desirable than time off during the day (Wedderburn 1981; Hornberger and Knauth 1993). If followed correctly this proposed schedule should allow more time for quality rest and recuperation while lessening the effects of fatigue brought about by the previous schedule.

Reference

Hornberger, S., & Knauth, P. (1993). Interindividual differences on the subjective evaluation of leisure time utility.

Mott, P. E., Mann, F. C., McLoughlin, Q., & Warwick, D. P. (1965). Shift Work: The Social, Psychological and Physical Consequences. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press.

Orlady, H. W., & Orlady, L. M. (2008). Human Factors in Multi-Crew Flight Operations. Burlington: Ashgate.

Thorpy, M. J. (2010, January). Managing the patient with shift-work disorder. Retrieved from The Journal of Family Practice: http://media.mycme.com/documents/29/culpepper_2010_swd_suppl_7021.pdf

Wedderburn, A. (1981). Is there a pattern in the value of time off work? . Pergamon: Oxford.