Effects of a change in shift work on health.

Aspects of health were studied in a sample of factory workers who changed their pattern of working from 'fortnight about' to three advancing shifts. Within the same factory and doing similar work there was a comparison group who were working permanent days only. The change in shifts was associated with more difficulty with sleep, more indigestion, higher alcohol consumption, reduced alertness and a worse social life. There was more minor psychiatric disturbance in those who worked three shifts than in those who worked days only.