FR- Report on night work and atypical working times highlights risks to workers

The Frenc Agency ANSES has been commissioned to assess health risks for workers exposed to atypical working schedules, particularly night work. This expert report highlights proven risks such as sleep disorders and metabolic disorders, and likely risks of carcinogenic nature or cardiovascular disorders and mental health problems among concerned workers.

Workers who work at night are generally subject to more physical strain, greater time pressure (schedules, rhythms constraints, deadlines,etc.), or more frequent tensions with colleaand the gues public. However, organizational characteristics and conditions of night work may vary, particularly from one sector of activity to another, which can reduce or increase the effects of night work on the health of workers.

The expert report highlights  health effects, with different levels of scientific evidence:

• effects such as sleepiness, reduced sleep quality and reduced total sleeping time, and metabolic syndrome are proven;
• the effects on mental health, cognitive performance, obesity and weight gain, type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (coronary ischemia and myocardial infarction) are probable;
• the effects on dyslipidemia (too high levels of certain fats in the blood), high blood pressure and ischemic stroke, are possible.

In 2012, night work, regular or occasional, accounted for 3.5 million people in France, or 15.4% of the workers. Night work concerns many sectors. It can be set up to ensure continuity of social services (health, police and enforecement bodies or other emergencyservices, etc.), or be a modality of work organisation (company that wishes to maximize the profitability of its equipment and personnel by means of shifts).

Read the report