Study on Adverse Effects of Night Shifts Initiated by the HSE
In the wake of the debate surrounding the risks of breast cancer and their association with night shift working, the HSE has given its approval for the constitution of a research panel on the matter, says HSE Chief Medical Officer, Dr. John Osmond.
In an interview to the BBC, Dr. Osmond stated that the HSE has been very proactive and has appointed a leading epidemiologist to examine the risk associated with late working at nights and see if any link to breast cancer can be established. The report of the study will be made public by 2011.
The HSE statement follows news that the Danish Government has started paying reparations to women who developed breasts cancer, possibly as a result of long working hours at night. Forty Danish women have been awarded compensation so far as part of the government payout. The United Nations agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has already said that breast cancer risks are probably increased significantly by long night hours.
It is well established that night shifts cause serious health hazards to employees. The most common warning symptoms are weariness, problems with digestion, and disturbed sleep or a lack of sleep, and such employees are also more prone to accidents at work.
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According to the UK workers unions’ estimate, around 20 percent of the work force is engaged in night shifts, and the HSE research could go a long way in determining how much risk these employees are exposing themselves to.
