• Workplaces often provide employee assistance programs or education related to mental health, nutrition, and physical activity, but sleep can sometimes be overlooked – particularly when employees are starting shiftwork for the first time.

• As a pillar of health, it is vital to provide ongoing education to shiftworkers about the importance of sleep and strategies to manage the associated challenges.

•There are sleep experts around Australia that are available to provide education to shiftwork organisations and their employees – you can get in touch with the Appleton Institute, Australasian Sleep Association, and the Sleep Health Foundation to find out more.

• Different industries have varied operational and roster requirements. Several rostering principles play an important role in the opportunities that shiftworkers have to sleep and look after their health and wellbeing. Some of these are:

• Breaks between shifts: It is vital that workers are provided with a sufficient break between shifts to allow for an adequate sleep period (7-9 hours per 24 hours). Depending on commuting requirements, this break may need to be at least 10-12 hours to allow for an appropriate sleep opportunity.

• Shifts in a row: The number of shifts you need to work consecutively, before a period of days off, is also important, as fatigue will increase as the number of consecutive shifts increases. The number of shifts that someone has to work in a row should be considered when developing rosters.

• Shift type and number: the type of shifts that you work is also important, with fatigue, errors, accidents, and injuries all higher during night shifts. The number of night shifts that someone has to work should be considered when developing rosters.

• Number of days off and leave: It can take several days, if not weeks, of maintaining a traditional sleep/wake schedule to overcome the fatiguing effects of shiftwork (117). This should be considered when rostering in break periods from work.

• The roster that you work plays a big part in your opportunity to get enough quality sleep. Rosters can have different impacts for different people, particularly if we consider our own unique chronotypes. If your roster is not working for you, it’s important to raise this with your supervisor or manager. Workplaces have a duty to provide a safe system of work, and poorly designed rosters are not safe.

• Workplace forums or working groups can act as a support network for shiftworkers to learn about the strategies that their colleagues employ to manage their sleep, health, and wellbeing (118-119).

• These groups can also be a valuable opportunity to share the unique challenges that you face as shiftworkers, which can make the experience a little less isolating (118-119).

• If you decide to implement changes to your lifestyle with the goal of improving your health and wellbeing, these sorts of workplace groups can act as a valuable source of support, community, and accountability (118-119).

• It’s important to remember that all shiftworkers have unique experiences when it comes to sleep. Just because a strategy works for someone, doesn’t automatically mean it will work for you. It’s important to find the approach that suits you best, and practice that consistently.

Some workplaces are required to provide areas for shiftworkers to sleep (i.e., on-site accommodations, rest areas etc.). If you feel that the environment your workplace is providing isn’t sufficient for you to get quality sleep (read about the ideal sleep environment here), it’s important to raise this. Workplaces have a duty of care to create safe, supportive environments for you to work in, and as a shiftworker, this is critically important for your health, wellbeing, and safety.