The focus of this chapter it to briefly review the fundamental human factors and ergonomic principles that may apply to an accident or illness alleged to have been cause by a poor work schedule practice. The chapter is not a review of litigation, law or regulation. Unfortunately, litigation often appears to center on the issue of employers' vs. workers' liability, rather than an assessment of the human factors work schedule practices associated with the event and how they might be improved. The legal literature is complex, diverse, and dated; litigation most often appears to end with an out-of-court settlement. There are major national international differences in how shiftwork is defined and regulated. In addition, nations appear to differ significantly in the manner and degree in which they manifest their medical and safety concerns with regard to work house. These legal differences may have evolved from medical concerns, or vice versa. It is proposed that the human factors variable, which may be relevant to an event or case, are equally complex and diverse. However, unlike regulations and laws, human factors variables will be reviewed because they appear to transcend regulatory diversity and many cultural differences.
Abstract