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To cite this article: EVA SCHÖNFELDER & PETER KNAUTH (1993): A procedure to assess shift systems based on ergonomic
criteria, Ergonomics, 36:1-3, 65-76
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ERGONOMICS, 1993, VOL 36, NOS 1-3. 65-76
The effective assessment of several alternative shift rotas depends mainly on the
subjective experience and attitude of the assessor. To make the process of
selection more objective, a procedure to assess shift systems was developed.
According to this procedure, shift systems can be compared by means of 14
criteria concerning the family and social life of shiftworkers, as well as their well-
being and health problems. The criteria have been derived from results of shift-
work studies, and are weighted according to their importance. The assessment of
every shift system is summed up in one total numerical value obtained from the
numerical values of the 14 criteria. The procedure for determining the values of
the 14 criteria is given in a catalogue.
1. Introduction
Numerous shiftwork studies show that shiftwork stresses the family and social life of
shiftworkers (Colligan and Rosa 1990, Knauth 1989, WaJker 1985, Wedderburn
1981b, Rutenfranz et al. 1980, Werner et al. 1989, Nachreiner et al. 1975).
Furthermore, shiftwork creates a heaJth risk for shiftworkers (Knutsson 1989, Haider
et al. 1988, Rutenfranz and Knauth 1987, Angersbach et aJ. 1989).
Recommendations for the design of shift rotas were derived from the results of
investigations. However, it is welJ known that not all these recommendations can be
realized completely: a few of them are contradictory, and thus compromises must be
found. Therefore, it is necessary to decide which of the recommendations is more
important than others, and consequently should be preferred. On this basis, we have
evolved a procedure which includes and weights all the known recommendations for
shiftwork design. These recommendations were transformed into criteria which
makes possible the measurement of the features of shift rotas. On this basis shift
systems can be assessed and compared (Schonfelder 1992).
Area Goal
~
weekends
Short-term changes of shift rotas Adjustment of working time to collectively
should be avoided negotiated working time
Shift systems should be regular and Clarity of shift rota structure
the shiftcycle should be as short as possible Clarity of shift rota structure
At least one free evening per week Weeks without leisure time in the
should be granted evenings
0'1
-J
68 E. Schonfelder and P. Knauth
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they have to be weighted according to their importance. In our case the weighting was
carried out by a group of experts of our institute.
For example, the subgoals on the first level were weighted in the following way:
the subgoal 'avoidance of health disturbances' was weighted at 70%, which means it
is more important, and the goal 'avoidance of disturbances in social life' was
weighted at 30%, which means it is less important.
The subgoalhealth' is subdivided into five subgoals and criteria on the second level
ofthe goal system. The weighting was carried out by the use of a matrix (see table 3). If
one subgoal or criterion is more important for fulfiJling the related subgoal on a higher
level, we put in the numerical value 'Z'. If the importance oftwo sub goals isequal, weput
in the value "I', If one subgoal is less important than another we put in the value "0'.
In the first line of the matrix, the subgoal 'night shifts' is compared with the other
subgoals and criteria. 'Nightshifts' are judged as more important than 'accumulation
of working time" 'order of shift rotation', and 'starting time for morning shift'.
Nightshifts are more likely to cause health disturbances than the other subgoals and
criteria. In comparison to the subgoal 'unfavourable shift sequence' the same
influence is assumed.
Comparing the subgoal 'accumulation of working time' with the criteria 'order of
shift rotation' and 'starting time for morning shift" the subgoal 'accumulation of
working time' is more important reo health disturbances. The criterion 'unfavourable
shift sequence' is finally compared with the criteria 'order of shift rotation' and
'starting time for the morning shift'. The effects of unfavourable shift sequences are
judged as stronger than the effects of the other two criteria. The final comparison is
made between the criteria 'order of shift rotation' and 'starting time for the morning
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Table 3. Weighting of the subgoals and criteria belonging to the subgoal 'Avoidance of health disturbances'.
Subgoal 1.1. Subgoal 1.2. Criterion 1.3. Criterion 1.4. Criterion 1.5. Sum of the line Node weight
Subgoal 1.1.
Night shifts - 2 1 2 2 7 35
~
Subgoal 1.2. ~
a
Accumulation of working time
Criterion 1.3.
0 - I 2 2 5 25
-.
t.'j
~
Unfavourable shift sequence I 1 - 2 2 6 30 ~
Criterion 1.4. S;
Order of shift 0 0 0 - I I 5 ~
~
~
Criterion 1.5.
Starting time 0 0 0 1 - 1 5 ~
Total 20 100
0\
\0
70 E. Schonfelder and P. Knauth
Value of
Criterion Measuring instruction Goal value benefit
k,~7 73·5
k , """'6 66·15
K, k,-number of consecutive night shifts k,-5 51·45
k ,"""4 44·1
consecutive night count of number of maximal consecutive k.-=) 29·4
shifts night shifts k.-2 22·0S
k.-I 7·35
kt-=O 0
~
0·70<k1SI 171·5 ~
0·63<k,sO·7 154·35 ~
~
kz-quota of night shifts 0·56<k,sO·63 137·2 ~.
0·49 <k,sO· 56 120·05 ~
nil
K1 k2 = - 0·42 <k,sO·49 102·9 ~
Value of
Criterion Measuring instruction Goal value benefit
0·9<k.:s I 87·5
k.-<luota of weeks with 0·8 <k.:sO-9 78·75
working time>40 h 0-7<k.~0·8 70
n.,>40 0·6 <k.::50· 7 61·25
K. k.=-- 0·5<k.:s0·6 52·5
n., 0·4<k.:s0-5 43.75
weekly working time n">40-number of weeks with 0'3<k4:sO-4 35 ~
working time>40 h O·2<k4:sO·3 26·25 ~
~
n•. -number of weeks in the 0·1 <k.::50· 2 17·5 c:
shiftcycle O<k.::50·1 8·15 ~
~
k.=O 0
k~-quota of forbidden or unfavourable ~
~
shift sequences 2'5<k,:S7 210 ~
2·0<ks:s2·5 189 ~
n. 1·5<k~::52-0 168 ~
«, k,=-
n., I-O<k~::51'5
O·5<ks:sI·Q
147
126
~
~
s::::
n.-number of forbidden or unfavourable 0·4<ks:sO-5 105 :;..
Unfavourable shift shift sequences 0·3<ks:s0·4 84
sequence n..-number of weeks in the shift cycle 0-2<k~:sO·3 63
forbidden shift sequences: 0-1<ks::50-2 42
N/M; MIA; AlN; N/A; AIM; MIN O<k,:SO·1 21
unfavourable shift sequences: ks=O 0
Nt-1M; N/-/N
~--l 35
Jc.-measure of order of shift rotation -1-0<k.<-0·8 31·5
-0·8:sk.< -0.6 28
K, -0_6:s~<-O.4 24·5
!VWW-tRWW -0-4:S~<-O-2 21
~= 1:VWW+f.RWW -Q'2:;k,<O'2 17·5
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Table 4.-con/inued
Value of
Criterion Measuring instruction Goal value benefit
kl)~6 6·0
KIJ kll-number of types of shifts kl)-S 4·8
kl)=4 3·6
types of shifts counting of the number of different k13=3 2·4
types of shifts k 13=2 1·2
kl)= I 0
k. 4-assessment of measure of shift
sequence:
(a) determination of the difference of
maximum and minimum length of
shift blocks for each type of shift;
(b) determination of the difference of ~
maximum and minimum interval ~
between the shift blocks for each ~
l.')
type of shift; 4·6<k, ..:S:.S 6·0 ~.
answers of the shift workers deviate from the results of the assessment procedure.
This comparison supports the hypothesis that the procedure is valid. A more detailed
description of this example is given in Schonfelder (1992).
4. Discussion
The procedure assessment based on ergonomic criteria can be a useful aid in the
selection of suitable shift systems. It is a contribution to the improvement of working
and living conditions. The use of this procedure leads to clear and understandable
results. New aspects of shiftwork research can be integrated, for example, the
weighting of goals and criteria can be brought into line with new findings.
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The most sensitive part of the procedure is the weighting of goals and criteria. It
would be desirable to carry out the weighting again with a larger group of experts to
confirm our results.
Future field studies should be harmonized with the criteria given in procedure. In
addition, questionnaires, physiological investigations, and longitudinal studies are
recommended.
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