Editing Shift work (section)

== Safety and regulation==
Shift work has been shown to negatively affect workers, and has been classified as a specific disorder (shift work sleep disorder). Circadian disruption by working at night causes symptoms like excessive sleepiness at work and sleep disturbances. Shift work sleep disorder also creates a greater risk for [[human error]] at work.<ref name=":0" /> Shift work disrupts cognitive ability and flexibility and impairs attention, motivation, [[decision making]], [[speech]], [[vigilance (psychology)|vigilance]], and overall performance.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|title = Caffeine for the prevention of injuries and errors in shift workers|journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|date = 2010|issn = 1469-493X|pmc = 4160007|pmid = 20464765|pages = CD008508|issue = 5|doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD008508|first1 = Katharine|last1 = Ker|first2 = Philip James|last2 = Edwards|first3 = Lambert M.|last3 = Felix|first4 = Karen|last4 = Blackhall|first5 = Ian|last5 = Roberts| volume=2010 }}</ref>

To mitigate the negative effects of shift work on safety and health, many countries have enacted regulations on shift work. The European Union, in its [[Working Time Directive 2003|directive 2003]]/88/EC, has established a 48-hour limit on working time (including [[overtime]]) per week; a minimum rest period of 11 consecutive hours per 24-hour period; and a minimum uninterrupted rest period of 24 hours of mandated rest per week (which is in addition to the 11 hours of daily rest).<ref name=":0" /><ref name="2003/88/EC">[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1432826343368&uri=URISERV:c10418 Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time].</ref> The EU directive also limits night work involving "special hazards or heavy physical or mental strain" to an average of eight hours in any 24-hour period.<ref name=":0"/><ref name="2003/88/EC"/> The EU directive allows for limited derogations from the regulation, and special provisions allow longer working hours for transportation and offshore workers, [[fishing vessel]] workers, and doctors in training (see also [[medical resident work hours]]).<ref name="2003/88/EC"/>

===Aircraft traffic flight controllers and pilots===
For fewer  operational errors, the FAA goal calls for Flight Controllers to be on duty for 5 to 6 hours per shift, with the remaining shift time devoted to meals and breaks.<ref>{{cite news|title= Mistakes increase at airport: An incident involving 2 jets at Orlando International focuses attention on air-traffic errors|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/461319088|author=Beth Kassab|year=2006|publisher=Knight Ridder Tribune|id={{ProQuest|461319088}} }}</ref> For aircraft pilots, the actual time at the controls (flight time) is limited to 8 or 9 hours, depending on the time of day.<ref>{{cite book|title= Flightcrew Member Duty and Rest Requirements|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/913496666|year=2012|publisher=The Federal Register|id={{ProQuest|913496666}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title= Safer shiftwork through more effective scheduling|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/213685199|author1= G. Brogmus, G. |author2= W. Maynard|year=2006|journal=Occupational Hazards|pages=52,54 |id={{ProQuest|213685199}} }}</ref>

===Industrial disasters===
Fatigue due to shift work has contributed to several industrial disasters, including the [[Three Mile Island accident]], the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]] and the [[Chernobyl disaster]].<ref name=":1" />  The Alaska Oil Spill Commission's final report on the [[Exxon Valdez oil spill|''Exxon Valdez'' oil spill]] disaster found that it was "conceivable" that excessive work hours contributed to crew fatigue, which in turn contributed to the vessel's [[Ship grounding|running aground]].<ref>[http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/noaa_documents/NOAA_related_docs/oil_spills/spill_wreck_ExxonValdez_1990.pdf Final Report: Spill—The Wreck of the ''Exxon Valdez'': Implications for Safe Transportation of Oil], Alaska Oil Spill Commission (February 1990).</ref>