Monk Model

1
Monk Model
2
Stress in Shiftwork Research

• Should the construct stress be used in
  shiftwork research?
• It depends

3
Use Concept of Stress?

• Yes
• Psychological variables are addressed
• Chance to clarify ambiguity
• and No
• Cant generate predictions if stress is poorly
  defined.
• Cant explain how factors influence each other to
  produce or alleviate stress.

4
Future Shiftwork Research

• Stop relying on stress as an explanatory
  concept
• Define stress within boundaries of shiftwork.
• Build narrower, situation specific theories.
• Conduct research with falsifiable hypotheses.

5
Shiftwork and Air Traffic Control

• Implications for Safety

6
Shiftwork and Air Traffic Control

• ATC rapid rotation schedules maintain diurnal
  orientation of workers
• Physiologically and socially desirable
• ATC works at nadir of circadian rhythm on night
  shift

7
Air Traffic Control Safety

• From FAA and USAF databases
• Larger percentage of error with low workload
• Decrements in speed, accuracy, vigilance and
  attention
• Decline in target identification speed and
  accuracy as night shift progresses

8
Effects of Rapid Rotation Schedules on Aviation
Safety

• Hypothesized at best
• Inferences from related studies
• Unknown if performance decrements have
  operational significance.

9
Interventions

• Interventions are theoretical
• Environmental bright light, cool temperature
• Work breaks Napping, physical exercise
• Maintain healthful eating habits
• Noise for alerting effect
• Melatonin?
• True effect of interventions unknown

10
Thank you.