Shift Work, Age, and Performance: Investigation of the 2-2-1 Shift Schedule Used in Air Traffic Control Facilities. I., the Sleep/Wake Cycle
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Shift Work, Age, and Performance: Investigation of the 2-2-1 Shift Schedule Used in Air Traffic Control Facilities. I., the Sleep/Wake Cycle

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  • Creators:
  • Corporate Creators:
    Civil Aeromedical Institute
  • Corporate Contributors:
    United States. Office of Aviation Medicine
  • Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Publication/ Report Number:
    DOT/FAA/AM-95/19
  • Resource Type:
    Tech Report
  • Geographical Coverage:
    United States
  • Corporate Publisher:
    Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
  • Abstract:
    Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCS) work rotating shift schedules for most of their careers. Specifically, many work a counterclockwise rotating shift schedule, called the 2-2-1, or some variation of the schedule. The 2-2-1 involves rotating from two afternoon shifts to two mornings and, finally, to a midnight shift over the course of one work week. The purpose of the present study was to investigate sleep patterns during this type of rotating shift and the potential cumulative partial sleep loss in a laboratory-based synthetic work environment.

    Methods. Four groups of five male subjects between the ages of 30 to 35 (n-10) and 50 to 55 (n=10) participated in the four week study. Subjects were screened on medical and cognitive criteria. The Multiple Task Performance Battery (MTPB) was utilized to provide a motivating synthetic work environment. Subjects were asked to work three 2-hour sessions on the MTPB per eight hour day for the last three weeks of the protocol. During the second and fourth weeks, subjects worked day shift (0800-1630) . During the third week, subjects worked the 2-2-1 schedule. Sleep duration and quality, as well as mood, sleepiness and fatigue ratings were reported in log books. Wrist activity monitors were used to verify sleep duration.

    Results. Average sleep durations decreased over the week of the 2-2-1 from an average of 7. 6 hours, on Sunday night prior to the first afternoon shift, to 3.0 hours just prior to the midnight shift. Comparison of sleep duration for the first week of day shifts (excluding weekends) to the 2-2-1 week revealed that total sleep time was significantly less for the 2-2-1 week (p<.Ol). No differences were found between age groups.

    Discussion. Data suggest that sleep management interventions could improve adaptation to the quick-rotating shift schedules. This study was the first report from a laboratory-based study of the 2-2-1. It was part of a research program designed to develop fatigue countermeasures for implementation with Air Traffic Control Specialists in the field.

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