The impact of shift work on sleep, alertness, and performance in high-risk work environments.

My thesis examines the impact of shift work on sleep, alertness and performance in high-risk work environments. Shift workers from three different high-risk work environments were examined. Multiple high-risk periods for impairments in alertness and performance have been identified and the potential countermeasures which can be used to help enhance alertness and performance during these high-risk periods have been detailed in this thesis. In summary, this thesis provides a fundamental understanding of night shift work impairment in high-risk work settings, also highlighting that sleep-wake, and circadian phase information are key to understanding impairments during shift work operations. This thesis also emphasizes that shift rotation patterns, shift start and end timings, and the duration of time off between shifts should all be considered when designing shift work rotas.