Shift work and injuries

Percent of workers compensated for an injury, by shift type, Canada, 1996-2006

In brief

• Shift workers are at increased risk of workplace injury. Sleep disruption and poor quality of sleep are thought to compromise worker attention and lead to injury.
• We used the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) to examine the trend and associations in shift work and workers’ compensation claims in Canada between 1999 and 2005.
• In 1999, there were 2.3 million people working night shift work in Canada, representing 15% of the workforce (9% rotating shift work, 6% regular evening or graveyard). By 2005, there had been an 18% increase in night shiftwork with a 16% increase among men and 22% increase among women.
• Over the same period, compensation rates among day-time workers decreased by 25%, while the decrease among rotating shift workers was about 22%, and there was no decrease among evening or graveyard shift workers.
• Men and women who work night shifts have a higher risk of work injury, compared to those working during the day.
• Women also have a higher risk while in rotating shift work.
• Regulatory agencies and employers need to identify and mitigate factors that give rise to increased work injury among shift workers.

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Contact: Chris McLeod