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A procedure to assess shift systems based on ergonomic

criteria
a a
EVA SCHÖNFELDER & PETER KNAUTH
a
Department of Ergonomics, University of Karlsruhe, HertzstraBe 16, Karlsruhe, 7500 1,
Germany
Version of record first published: 31 May 2007.

To cite this article: EVA SCHÖNFELDER & PETER KNAUTH (1993): A procedure to assess shift systems based on ergonomic
criteria, Ergonomics, 36:1-3, 65-76

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 ERGONOMICS, 1993, VOL 36, NOS 1-3. 65-76

A procedure to assess shift systems based on ergonomic criteria

EVA SCHONFELDER and PETER KNAUTH

Department of Ergonomics, University of Karlsruhe, HertzstraBe 16, 7500 Karlsruhe I,

Germany

Keywords: Shift system; Shiftwork; Nightwork; Shift system assessment.

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The effective assessment of several alternative shift rotas depends mainly on the
subjective experience and attitude of the assessor. To make the process of
selection more objective, a procedure to assess shift systems was developed.
According to this procedure, shift systems can be compared by means of 14
criteria concerning the family and social life of shiftworkers, as well as their well-
being and health problems. The criteria have been derived from results of shift-
work studies, and are weighted according to their importance. The assessment of
every shift system is summed up in one total numerical value obtained from the
numerical values of the 14 criteria. The procedure for determining the values of
the 14 criteria is given in a catalogue.

1. Introduction
Numerous shiftwork studies show that shiftwork stresses the family and social life of
shiftworkers (Colligan and Rosa 1990, Knauth 1989, WaJker 1985, Wedderburn
1981b, Rutenfranz et al. 1980, Werner et al. 1989, Nachreiner et al. 1975).
Furthermore, shiftwork creates a heaJth risk for shiftworkers (Knutsson 1989, Haider
et al. 1988, Rutenfranz and Knauth 1987, Angersbach et aJ. 1989).
Recommendations for the design of shift rotas were derived from the results of
investigations. However, it is welJ known that not all these recommendations can be
realized completely: a few of them are contradictory, and thus compromises must be
found. Therefore, it is necessary to decide which of the recommendations is more
important than others, and consequently should be preferred. On this basis, we have
evolved a procedure which includes and weights all the known recommendations for
shiftwork design. These recommendations were transformed into criteria which
makes possible the measurement of the features of shift rotas. On this basis shift
systems can be assessed and compared (Schonfelder 1992).

2. Evolution of the shift systems assessment procedure

The methodological basis for the evol ution of the procedure of assessing shift systems
is 'value-benefit analysis' (Hanusch 1987, von Zwehl and Schrnidt-Ewig 1981,
Bechmann 1978, Zangemeister 1976). With the use of value-benefit analysis, a
complex assessment problem can be subdivided into measurable aspects in order to
secure values of benefit for alternatives. The selection of an ergonomic, optimally
designed shift system is the complex assessment problem in this study. The
determination of values of benefit for different shift systems makes possible the
formulations of an order of rank for alternative shift systems and facilitates the
selection of the best system. The main steps, according to the value-benefit analysis,
for evolving the procedure of assessment are:
Step l: drawing up a project-related goal system;
Step 2: weighting of the goals;
0014-0139/93 $10.00 e 1993 Taylor & Francis Ltd.
 66 E. Schonfelder and P. Knauth

Step 3: determination of measuring instructions for criteria;

Step 4: transformation of the values of criteria into values of a uniform scale;
Sup 5: drawing up a catalogue of criteria to assess shift systems.

2.1. Step J: Drawing up a project-related goal system

Shiftwork studies show that shiftwork may impair the health, well-being, social life,
physiological re-entrainment, and performance of shiftworkers. These five aspects
were checked to ascertain their suitability as goals for the goal system (see table I).

Table 1. Areas and goals concerning the design of shiftwork.

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Area Goal

Health Avoidance of health disturbances

Well-being Avoidance of well-being disturbances
Social life Avoidance of disturbances in social life
Adjustment Minimization of physiological adjustment processes
Performance Avoidance of performance disturbances

To obtain unadulterated results, it was necessary to avoid repetition in the

assessment of criteria. Therefore the areas 'well-being' and "health' were combined.
The impairment of well-being can be seen as an early stage of health impairment;
and, conversely, if health problems arise, well-being is impaired too.
Disturbances of physiological adjustment can only be investigated directly by
means of physiological measurement. The effects of such disturbances also influence
other areas, e.g., well-being, health, and possibly performance. For this reason the
goal 'minimization of physiological adjustment processes' is not treated as an
independent goal.
For the area 'performance', it is almost impossible to separate the influences of
shiftwork from other influences. Clear results of investigations, which show the
influence of shiftwork on performance quantitatively, are not available. Therefore
the goal 'avoidance of performance disturbances' is not included.
Two of the five aspects would seem to be independent to a large degree, these
being 'health' and 'social life'. The 'avoidance of health disturbances' and 'avoidance
of disturbances in social life' are derived from these two aspects. Therefore the main
goal 'selection of an ergonomic optimally-designed shift system' is subdivided into
the above-mentioned two goals on the first level of the goal system (see figure 1). The
two subgoals on the first level are subdivided into subgoals on the second level.
According to recommendations for shiftwork design derived from the results offield
studies, the subgoals on the second level can be identified (see table 2).
A few of the subgoals placed on the second level have to be subdivided again to
obtain measurable criteria. The completed goal system consists of three levels and
has a hierarchical structure (see figure 1). At the end of each goal chain there are
always measurable subgoals-so-called criteria-used for the assessment of shift
systems. There are altogether 14 criteria in this goal system. The criteria are
delineated in the figure by square frames.

2.2. Step 2: goal weighting

The subgoals of the goal system differ with regard to their importance in fulfilling the
main goal, the 'selection of an ergonomic optimally designed shift system'. Therefore
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Table 2. Determination of subgoals on the second level.

Subgoals on the first level Recommendation Subgoals on the second level

Avoidance of health disturbances Number of consecutive night shifts Night shifts

should be as small as possible
Accumulation of working time Accumulation of working time ~
should be avoided ~
Short periods of free time between Unfavourable shift sequence ~
c..,
two shifts should be avoided S·
Cl'tj
Forward rotation should be preferred Order of shift rotation c..,
~
Morning shifts should not start too early Starting time for morning shift
S
Avoidance of disturbances in social life Two days off should be granted at Leisure time at weekends ~
c..,

weekends
Short-term changes of shift rotas
should be avoided
Shift systems should be regular and
the shiftcycle should be as short as possible
At least one free evening per week
should be granted
~
Adjustment of working time to collectively
negotiated working time
Clarity of shift rota structure
Clarity of shift rota structure
Weeks without leisure time in the
evenings

0'1
-J
 68 E. Schonfelder and P. Knauth

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Figure I. Goal system for the procedure of assessing shift systems.

they have to be weighted according to their importance. In our case the weighting was
carried out by a group of experts of our institute.
For example, the subgoals on the first level were weighted in the following way:
the subgoal 'avoidance of health disturbances' was weighted at 70%, which means it
is more important, and the goal 'avoidance of disturbances in social life' was
weighted at 30%, which means it is less important.
The subgoalhealth' is subdivided into five subgoals and criteria on the second level
ofthe goal system. The weighting was carried out by the use of a matrix (see table 3). If
one subgoal or criterion is more important for fulfiJling the related subgoal on a higher
level, we put in the numerical value 'Z'. If the importance oftwo sub goals isequal, weput
in the value "I', If one subgoal is less important than another we put in the value "0'.
In the first line of the matrix, the subgoal 'night shifts' is compared with the other
subgoals and criteria. 'Nightshifts' are judged as more important than 'accumulation
of working time" 'order of shift rotation', and 'starting time for morning shift'.
Nightshifts are more likely to cause health disturbances than the other subgoals and
criteria. In comparison to the subgoal 'unfavourable shift sequence' the same
influence is assumed.
Comparing the subgoal 'accumulation of working time' with the criteria 'order of
shift rotation' and 'starting time for morning shift" the subgoal 'accumulation of
working time' is more important reo health disturbances. The criterion 'unfavourable
shift sequence' is finally compared with the criteria 'order of shift rotation' and
'starting time for the morning shift'. The effects of unfavourable shift sequences are
judged as stronger than the effects of the other two criteria. The final comparison is
made between the criteria 'order of shift rotation' and 'starting time for the morning
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Table 3. Weighting of the subgoals and criteria belonging to the subgoal 'Avoidance of health disturbances'.

Subgoal 1.1. Subgoal 1.2. Criterion 1.3. Criterion 1.4. Criterion 1.5. Sum of the line Node weight

Subgoal 1.1.
Night shifts - 2 1 2 2 7 35
~
Subgoal 1.2. ~
a
Accumulation of working time
Criterion 1.3.
0 - I 2 2 5 25
-.
t.'j

~
Unfavourable shift sequence I 1 - 2 2 6 30 ~
Criterion 1.4. S;
Order of shift 0 0 0 - I I 5 ~
~
~
Criterion 1.5.
Starting time 0 0 0 1 - 1 5 ~
Total 20 100

0\
\0
 70 E. Schonfelder and P. Knauth

shift' The importance concerning health disturbances is judged to be simiJar. The

weighting of the subgoal 'avoidance of disturbances in social life' is carried out in a
similar way (Schonfelder 1992).
When the matrix is completed so-called node weights can be calculated. They
indicate the importance of each subgoal or criterion in relation to the correspondence
goal on the next higher level of the goal system. The node weights were placed on the
left side under the subgoals and criteria in the goal system (see figure I). On the right
side of the node weights are step weights. They indicate the importance of each
subgoal or criterion in relation to the main goal.
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2.3. Step 3: Determination of measuring instructions for criteria

Next it was necessary to determine scales and measuring instructions for each of the
J4 criteria. An example demonstrates how these instructions were determined.
At the parameter k, 'number of consecutive nightshifts' is introduced for the
criteria 'consecutive nightshifts' (see table 4). For this measuring instruction it is
necessary to count the number of consecutive nightshifts of the largest block of
nightshifts. The range of the parameter k, reaches from 0 to n; when n/ means the
number of days in the shift cycle. For the criterion 'quota of nightshifts', the
parameter k 1 'quota of night shifts in the shift cycle' is introduced. The value of
parameter k 1 results from the ratio of the number of nightshifts nil to the number of
days in the shift cycle n; The range of parameter k 2 is between 0 and 1.
The instructions to determine the values ofbenefit were stated in a similar way for
all 14 criteria. The measuring scales for the criteria are different. Therefore it is
necessary to transfer the values of the different scales into values of a uniform scale.
The uniform scale includes the values 0 to 10 points. The worst solution is valued at
10 points; the best at 0 points.
The instruction for transformation is based on ergonomic theory. After setting the
instructions for transformation, a complete catalogue of criteria with instructions for
determining the values of benefit and the instructions for transformation can be
drawn up. The following examples show how to use the catalogue (see table 4).
If there are five consecutive nightshifts the value of parameter k, is 5 and the
value of benefit is 51·45. If the shift rota consists of 28 days including 14 nightshifts,
the value of parameter k 2 is 0·5 and the value of benefit is 120·05. To obtain the
overall value of benefit, we have to add the single values of benefit of the 14 criteria.
By means of this catalogue, shift systems can be assessed and an order of rank can be
formed. Thus the best shift rota can be selected.

3. Application of the shift systems assessment procedure

The procedure has been applied to two shift rotas taken from a study in an oil
refinery (Knauth and Schonfelder 1990). The shift system had been changed from a
traditional continuous shift rota with seven night shifts, seven afternoon shifts, and
seven morning shifts in successsion, to a quicker rotating shift rota, with three or four
.consecutive night shifts.
The shiftworkers had been asked to assess both shift systems and to list the
advantages and disadvantages after having worked in both. The assessment of the
two shift systems by the new procedure showed that the new shift system was more
favoured: 86% of the shift workers judged the new shift system as more favourable
than the previous system.
Five criteria of the procedure indicated an improvement with the new shift
system. Four of the criteria came off badly in the new shift system. In no case did the
 Table 4. Catalogue of criteria.
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Value of
Criterion Measuring instruction Goal value benefit

k,~7 73·5
k , """'6 66·15
K, k,-number of consecutive night shifts k,-5 51·45
k ,"""4 44·1
consecutive night count of number of maximal consecutive k.-=) 29·4
shifts night shifts k.-2 22·0S
k.-I 7·35
kt-=O 0
~
0·70<k1SI 171·5 ~
0·63<k,sO·7 154·35 ~
~
kz-quota of night shifts 0·56<k,sO·63 137·2 ~.
0·49 <k,sO· 56 120·05 ~
nil
K1 k2 = - 0·42 <k,sO·49 102·9 ~

n, 0·3S<k zsO·42 85·7 ~

quota of night shifts O· 21<k,sO' 35 68·6 ~
t.i
nil-number of night shifts 0·14<k zsO·21 52·45 ~
n,-number of days in the shift cycle 0·07<kz:SO·14 34·3 3
~
<k2:sO·OI7 17·15
k,"""'O 0
k»IO 87·5
kJ=1O 78·75
kJ-number of consecutive working k)=9 70
KJ days kJ-8 61·25
k)-7 52·5
k)-6 43·75
Consecutive working kJ-S 35
days. count of number of maximum consecutive k J""'4 26·25
working days kJ-3 17·5
kJ-2 8·75
-.I
k)=1 0
 '-J
N
Table 4.-conlinued
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Value of
Criterion Measuring instruction Goal value benefit

0·9<k.:s I 87·5
k.-<luota of weeks with 0·8 <k.:sO-9 78·75
working time>40 h 0-7<k.~0·8 70
n.,>40 0·6 <k.::50· 7 61·25
K. k.=-- 0·5<k.:s0·6 52·5
n., 0·4<k.:s0-5 43.75
weekly working time n">40-number of weeks with 0'3<k4:sO-4 35 ~
working time>40 h O·2<k4:sO·3 26·25 ~
~
n•. -number of weeks in the 0·1 <k.::50· 2 17·5 c:
shiftcycle O<k.::50·1 8·15 ~
~
k.=O 0
k~-quota of forbidden or unfavourable ~
~
shift sequences 2'5<k,:S7 210 ~
2·0<ks:s2·5 189 ~

n. 1·5<k~::52-0 168 ~
«, k,=-
n., I-O<k~::51'5
O·5<ks:sI·Q
147
126
~
~
s::::
n.-number of forbidden or unfavourable 0·4<ks:sO-5 105 :;..
Unfavourable shift shift sequences 0·3<ks:s0·4 84
sequence n..-number of weeks in the shift cycle 0-2<k~:sO·3 63
forbidden shift sequences: 0-1<ks::50-2 42
N/M; MIA; AlN; N/A; AIM; MIN O<k,:SO·1 21
unfavourable shift sequences: ks=O 0
Nt-1M; N/-/N
~--l 35
Jc.-measure of order of shift rotation -1-0<k.<-0·8 31·5
-0·8:sk.< -0.6 28
K, -0_6:s~<-O.4 24·5
!VWW-tRWW -0-4:S~<-O-2 21
~= 1:VWW+f.RWW -Q'2:;k,<O'2 17·5
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Order of shift O'2 s!4, <0-4 14

rotation 0-4;5;~ <0·6 10·5
VWW: forward rotation (MIAIN) 0.6.:sk. <0·8 7-00
RWW: backward rotation (NIAIM) O·S;5;!4<1 3·5
!4=1 0
before 05:01 35
k,-time of morning shift stan 05:01-05:30 31·5
K, 05:31-06:00 28
06:01--06:30 21
Starting time of 06:31-07:00 21
morning shift ascertaining of the starting time of 07:01-07:30 7
morning shift 07:31-08:00 3·5
after 08:00 0 ~
~
0·9<k•.:s1 126·0 ~
k,-quota of working weekends
nD+0·43 n,
o-a <k•.:s0·9
0·7<k.sO·8
113·4
100·8
-.
c.,
;::s
00Q
c.,
K. k.= 0-6<k,sO-7 88·2 ~
n", Q-S<k.sO·6 75·6 S;
Leisure time at "D-number of weeks without free 0-4<k•.:sO·5 63·0 ~
t.;
weekends Saturday and Sunday O· 3 <k.sO·4 50·4 ~
n, -number of weeks with free 0·2<k.;5;0·3 37·8 3c.,
Saturday or free Sunday 0-1 -ck• .:s0-2 25-2
".,-number of weeks in the shift cycle O<k.sO·1 12·6
k.=O 0
1·8<k,s7 24·0
k,-measure of adjustment of working 1·6<k,s 1·8 21-6
K, time 1·4<k,.:s1·6 19·2
",+0·25 "f 1-2<k,.:s 1·4 16·8
Adjustment of working k,Fa<: I·O<k,s 1·2 14·4
time to collectively "", 0·8<k,.:s1·0 12-0
negotiated working time n;-number of additional shifts 0·4 <k,sO'6 1·2
"r-number of paid days ofT O· 2 <k,sO·4 4·8
n..- number of weeks in the shift cycle 0<k,:5.0·2 2·4
<k,=0 0 -...J
~
 -..J
~
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Table 4.-con/inued

Value of
Criterion Measuring instruction Goal value benefit

O·9<k ,o.s1 126

k,o-quota of weeks without free 0·8<k 1o.sO·9 113·4
evening O· 7<k,o.sO· 8 100·8
Klo O·6<klosO· 7 88·2
k 1o==- - n"- O·S<k ,o.::s0·6 75·6
Weeks without nor O·4<k ,o.::sO·5 63
~
leisure time in the 0·3<k ,o:sO·4 SO·4
evening n,,-number of weeks without free O· 2 <k,o:SO· 3 37·8 ~
~
evening 0·1 <k ,o.s0·2 25·2 0:
.;::
n~.-number of weeks in the shift cycle O<kIO:sO·1 12·6 ~
<klo-O 0 ~
..,
~
k ll > 10 6·0 II::)
kl,-Iength of shift rota kll-IO 5·4 ;::
~
kll-9 4·8
kl l - 8 4·2
:-c
KII kl l - 7 3·6 ~
~
kl l - 6 3·0 s:::
Length of shift rota kll-S 2·4 s,
kl l - 4 1·8
counting of number of weeks in the kit ""3 1·2
shift rota k ll=2 0·6
k ll 1
fa 0
klZ-number of shift changes in the. ku~6 6·0
Ku basic pattern ku-S 4·8
k u-4 3·6
Distribution of ascertaining of the number of changes k 12-3 2·4
working days and between working days and days off in kn-I 1·2
days ofT the basic pattern k 12-1 0
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kl)~6 6·0
KIJ kll-number of types of shifts kl)-S 4·8
kl)=4 3·6
types of shifts counting of the number of different k13=3 2·4
types of shifts k 13=2 1·2
kl)= I 0
k. 4-assessment of measure of shift
sequence:
(a) determination of the difference of
maximum and minimum length of
shift blocks for each type of shift;
(b) determination of the difference of ~
maximum and minimum interval ~
between the shift blocks for each ~
l.')
type of shift; 4·6<k, ..:S:.S 6·0 ~.

4·2<k, ..:S:.4·6 5-4 ~

(e) determination of a value for every 3·8<k,4::;4·2 4·8 ~

type of shift according to the matrix; 3·4<k. 4::;3·8 4·2 S
K,.. 3·0<k. 4:S:.3·4 3-6 ~
c.;,
2·6<k. 4:S:.3·0 )·0 ;:;;-
Shift sequence (d) determination of the average value 2·2<k. 4.:52·6 2·4 3
l.')
for each type of shift 1·8<k, ..::;2·2 1·8
1·4<k,..-s I· 8 )·2
Matrix: I·O<k I 4 :S:. 1·4 0·6
k 14=1 0

Difference of the length

of shift blocks
0 I 2 3 ~4

diff, of the 0 I 1·5 2 2·5 )

interval I 1·5 2 2·5 3 )·5
between 2 2 2·5 3 3·5 4
the shift 3 2·5 3 3·5 4 4·5
blocks ~4 3 3·5 4 4·5 5 "
Vl
 76 Assessing shift systems

answers of the shift workers deviate from the results of the assessment procedure.
This comparison supports the hypothesis that the procedure is valid. A more detailed
description of this example is given in Schonfelder (1992).

4. Discussion
The procedure assessment based on ergonomic criteria can be a useful aid in the
selection of suitable shift systems. It is a contribution to the improvement of working
and living conditions. The use of this procedure leads to clear and understandable
results. New aspects of shiftwork research can be integrated, for example, the
weighting of goals and criteria can be brought into line with new findings.
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The most sensitive part of the procedure is the weighting of goals and criteria. It
would be desirable to carry out the weighting again with a larger group of experts to
confirm our results.
Future field studies should be harmonized with the criteria given in procedure. In
addition, questionnaires, physiological investigations, and longitudinal studies are
recommended.

References
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workers, International Archives ofOccupational and Environmental Health, 45, 127-140.
BECRMANN, A. 1978, Nut zwertanalyse, Bewertungstheorie, und Planung (Verlag Paul Haupt,
Bern). .
COWOAN, M. and ROSA, R. R. 1990, Shiftwork effects on social and family life, in A. J. Scott (ed.),
Occupational Medicine-s-Shiftwork (Hanley and Belfus Inc., Philadelphia), 315-322.
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der Nacht- und Schichtarbeit-Ergebnisse einer Langsschnittuntersuchung, in
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