CHANGES FROM WEEKLY BACKWARD TO QUICKER FORWARD ROTATING SHIFT SYSTEMS IN THE STEEL-INDUSTRY

Two intervention studies in the steel industry are presented. One expe rimental group (El) changed from a discontinuous weekly backward (adva ncing) to a quicker forward (delaying) rotating shift system. The seco nd experimental group (E2) first worked in a weekly backward rotating and then in a quicker forward rotating shift system. These experimenta l groups and two control groups (not changing their shift system) fill ed out questionnaires before and ten month after the change to new shi ft systems in the experimental groups. In the second questionnaire stu dy there were significant improvements of the satisfaction with the ne w shift systems and some significant reductions of social problems in comparison to the old shift system in the experimental groups. No sign ificant differences were observed with regard to health effects, sleep duration, sleep disturbances, and duration of leisure time. Neverthel ess after the pilot period of ten month with the new shift systems 95% (E2) and 100% (El) voted in favor of the new shift system.