SOME EFFECTS OF 8-HOUR VS. 10-HOUR WORK SCHEDULES ON THE TEST PERFORMANCE ALERTNESS OF AIR-TRAFFIC-CONTROL SPECIALISTS/

A 10 h 4 d rotating shift schedule worked by some Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCSs) was compared to the more traditional 8 h 2-2-1 rap idly rotating schedule, Measures of performance and alertness were obt ained from a group of 52 ATCSs at art en route ATC center on tasks in the NIOSH fatigue test battery. Additional information on sleep patter ns, mood, and somatic complaints was also gathered. Results confirm th at tests comprising the NIOSH battery are sensitive to fatigue and diu rnal variations associated with a rotating shift schedule. Test perfor mance of ATCSs on the 10 h shift did not differ from those on the 8 h schedule for any of the parameters, when comparing the initial 4 d of the work week. Test performance was notably poorer on the night shift that occurred on the final (fifth) day of the 2-2-1 8 h schedule. For both schedules, there was evidence of changes in alertness on some of the NIOSH performance measures within work days and ac:ross days of th e week. Changes in test performance and mood ratings corresponded to t he decline in self-reported sleep time across the work week.