Objective: Employees working in nonstandard shifts and long-hour schedules have an increased risk for job-related injuries and illnesses. This study estimates the extent of that risk among various occupations and industries.
Methods: Longitudinal data for 13 years among a sample of nearly 11,000 employees aged 22 to 43 was used to calculate the risk of injury by occupation and industry for six types of demanding work schedules. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to estimate risks within specific occupational and industrial classifications.
Results: The greatest risks of job-related injury were among 1) construction workers in evening shifts, 2) professional, technical, and managerial personnel working overtime schedules, and 3) employees working overtime shifts in the business and repair services sectors.
Conclusions: Injury prevention efforts should be targeted toward employees in specific industries and occupations who work certain long-hour and shift work schedules.