@article{ref1,
title="Rapid counterclockwise shift rotation in air traffic control: effects on sleep and night work",
journal="Aviation, space, and environmental medicine",
year="2007",
author="Signal, T. Leigh and Gander, Philippa H.",
volume="78",
number="9",
pages="878-885",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: In Air Traffic Control, counterclockwise rapidly rotating shift schedules are often employed but may result in significant sleep loss. This has potential consequences for performance, particularly if a night shift is worked. As part of a large-scale field study, the pattern of sleep across a 4-d counterclockwise, rapidly rotating schedule (afternoon, day, morning, night shift) was documented and relationships between prior sleep and performance during the night shift were investigated. METHODS: There were 28 controllers who completed 4 periods of data collection which included 2 d before and 2 d after a 4-d shift cycle. Sleep was recorded using an actigraph and sleep diary, and performance on each night shift was measured three times using the Psychomotor Vigilance Task. RESULTS: Across the work week, sleep duration decreased largely due to earlier rise times associated with shift start times moving backward. In the short turn-around between the morning and night shift, 90% of controllers slept for an average of 2.2 h. Improved performance on the night shift was related only to longer periods of sleep the night prior. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that a 4-d counterclockwise, rapidly rotating schedule results in a progressive reduction in sleep and consequently the rapid accumulation of a sleep debt. To help maintain their performance on the night shift, it is recommended that controllers attempt to obtain at least 6 h sleep the night before a night shift. It is also recommended that ATC providers educate their workforce about this issue.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0095-6562",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}