The number of published studies examining overtime and extended work shifts appears to be increasing. Recent reviews that address overtime include approximately 34 research reports published over a span of about 32 years [Sparks et al. 1997; Spurgeon et al. 1997]. In comparison, the current search for reports published during the past 8 years found 75 reports that examined overtime, extended work shifts, or very long shifts. The latest review of long work hours by van der Hulst [2003] includes an additional 13 studies that have been published since 1996.

Despite the increased current interest in long working hours, research questions remain about the ways overtime and extended work shifts influence health and safety. Few studies have examined how the number of hours worked per week, shift work, shift length, the degree of control over one’s work schedule, compensation for overtime, and other characteristics of work schedules interact and relate to health and safety. Few studies have examined how long working hours influence health and safety outcomes in older workers, women, persons with pre-existing health problems, and workers with hazardous occupational exposures.

Previous research indicates that the influence of overtime and extended work shifts on health and safety may involve a complex interaction of several work schedule characteristics, as well as work tasks, worker characteristics, compensation, commute time, occupational exposures, and nature of worker control over work schedules. As a consequence, future research would benefit from a clear and complete description of the work schedules and other factors mentioned in this document. Such an approach would facilitate a detailed comparison of findings across studies.

Index: Main Page Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 Table 6 Table 7 Table 8 Table 9 Abbreviations Acknowledgments Introduction Description of Work Schedules and Samples Health and Safety Findings Summary Concluding Remarks References