Rapid counterclockwise shift rotation in air traffic control: effects on sleep and night work.

Sep 26, 2007Aviation, space, and environmental medicine

Quick counterclockwise shift rotation in air traffic control and its effects on sleep and night work

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗

Abstract

On average, controllers slept for only 2.2 hours during the short turnaround between morning and night shifts.

Sleep duration decreased throughout the work week due to earlier rise times linked to shift changes.
A 4-day counterclockwise, rapidly rotating shift schedule is associated with a progressive reduction in sleep.
Improved performance during night shifts may depend on obtaining longer periods of sleep the night before.
The accumulation of sleep debt is significant among controllers working the described shift pattern.
Education about sleep management may be beneficial for air traffic control personnel.

AI simplified

INTRODUCTION: In Air Traffic Control, counterclockwise rapidly rotating shift schedules are often employed but may result in significant sleep loss. This has potential consequences for performance, particularly if a night shift is worked. As part of a large-scale field study, the pattern of sleep across a 4-d counterclockwise, rapidly rotating schedule (afternoon, day, morning, night shift) was documented and relationships between prior sleep and performance during the night shift were investigated.

METHODS: There were 28 controllers who completed 4 periods of data collection which included 2 d before and 2 d after a 4-d shift cycle. Sleep was recorded using an actigraph and sleep diary, and performance on each night shift was measured three times using the Psychomotor Vigilance Task.

RESULTS: Across the work week, sleep duration decreased largely due to earlier rise times associated with shift start times moving backward. In the short turn-around between the morning and night shift, 90% of controllers slept for an average of 2.2 h. Improved performance on the night shift was related only to longer periods of sleep the night prior.

DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that a 4-d counterclockwise, rapidly rotating schedule results in a progressive reduction in sleep and consequently the rapid accumulation of a sleep debt. To help maintain their performance on the night shift, it is recommended that controllers attempt to obtain at least 6 h sleep the night before a night shift. It is also recommended that ATC providers educate their workforce about this issue.

Rapid counterclockwise shift rotation in air traffic control: effects on sleep and night work.

Abstract

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief