Shift work and its related health problems in petrochemical industries

Shift work may induce adverse effects such as health problems on human life. The purpose of this study was to investigate shift work-related health problems and their associated risk factors among workers of petrochemical industries. This cross-sectional study was carried out in 21 petrochemical companies affiliated to the National Petrochemical Industries Company, Iran. The study population consisted of 3580 workers (44.2% shift- and 55.8% day-workers). Data were collected on demographic characteristics, shift schedules, and health problems using anonymous questionnaires. Statistical analyses and modeling were performed using SPSS version 11.5. The mean age of the day-workers with a job tenure of 8.87±7.22 years and of the shift-workers with a job tenure of 8.22±7.02 years was 34.56±8.19 and 33.15±7.73 years, respectively. Analysis of the data showed that prevalence of health problems among shift-workers was higher than that of day-workers. Furthermore, based on multiple linear regression analysis, it was revealed that, in addition to shift-working itself, other variables such as long working-hours, type of employment, age, job tenure, education, and job title also had a role in creating problems. Although in the shift-working system the main risk factor associated with health problems among the workers is the work itself, there are also other risk factors, such as demographic and occupational variables.