Short Communication R HANOA et al. No Difference in Self Reported Health among Coalminers in Two Different Shift Schedules

• Main Authors: Rolf Hanoa, Valborg Baste, Arne Kooij, Linda Sommervold, Bente Elisabeth Moen
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Arctic; Longyearbyen; Norway; Svalbard; Svea; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.411.956; http://www.jniosh.go.jp/en/indu_hel/pdf/IH_49_5_652.pdf

Abstract: This study was performed among coal miners in the remote location Svea, Spitsbergen. The shift schedule used to be 7 d on and 7 d off. The aim of this study was to investigate possible changes in health after a voluntary implementation of a new shift schedule, with periods of 14 d on and 14 d off, for 74 percent of the workers in 2007. A questionnaire was distributed to all employees before and two times after the new shift schedule, comprising questions on type of work, shift schedule, pain, sleep, stress and coping. Ninety nine percent of the employees responded; 274 in 2006, 307 in 2007 and 312 in 2008. Work neither in the 14/14 shift nor 7/7 shift was related to any change in the health after these two years. The coping index for workers in the 14/14 shift improved. Key words: Arctic medicine, Coalminer, Health, Shift work, Work hours Work schedules with long shift periods and extended work hours are common in geographically remote sites. Many employees prefer fewer and longer periods at work and off work. The state owned Norwegian coal company at Spitsbergen, Norway, operates a smaller underground mine in Longyearbyen, the capital of the Svalbard islands at 78 ˚ Northern latitude. The major underground operation is located in Svea, 45 km straight line to the south through snow covered mountains and glaciers1). The location is reached by plane. The only purpose of staying in Svea is the job. The mine has a continuous production. Nobody is regularly spending the off-period in Svea. The employees are living permanently either in Longyearbyen which is located about 30 min flight time from Svea, or at the Norwegian mainland with much longer flight time home. Before 2007 the regular shift period was a seven days *To whom correspondence should be addressed.