Shift work on a modern offshore oil rig

Offshore drilling workers experience shift work schedules of 14 to 28 days on board, with shifts lasting 12 hours or more per day.

• Long periods of time on board (14 to 28 days) are common for offshore drilling workers.
• Shifts often exceed 12 hours per day, contributing to fatigue.
• Workers frequently rotate through shifts lasting 7 to 14 days, including extended night shifts.
• Stressors identified include role conflicts, social isolation, and poor sleep quality during night shifts.
• An imbalance between expected and actual rewards is reported as a significant source of stress.

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