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Labour Day
Founded in 1888 following the Haymarket Massacre, where strikers calling for an 8-hour day came under fire from police, May 1st – or the first Monday of the month – is a public holiday almost everywhere in the world.
While most of us enjoy a break in the sunshine, it’s worth taking a moment to honour all the brave campaigners who continue to fight for our right to work in safe, healthy conditions with dignity and respect.
It’s tempting to think health and safety, diversity, equity and inclusion are all ‘woke’, self-indulgent distractions from the serious business of maximising profit. After all, if there’s no cash, there’s nothing to spend on sit-stand desks and coffee machines, right?
And yet, even the World Economic Forum, not known for its wishy washy approach to the bottom line, points out that businesses that invest in the health and well-being of their workforce have a competitive advantage and increased profitability – A healthy workforce is good for business. Here’s why.
If the ‘carrot’ of financial gain isn’t enough to take working conditions seriously, the ‘stick’ of legal sanctions just might tip the balance, with the average cost of an occupational health claim coming in at an average of $41,353 in terms of USA, according to Work Health Solutions – The Business Case for Occupational Health: Cost Savings and Return on Investment.
Here’s where light can help, even for the 30% of nurses who work nights – Tips for thriving–not just surviving–on the night shift. This group, mostly women, are at higher risk of life-changing physical and mental health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, depression and burnout – Consequences of Shift Work and Night Work: A Literature Review, Shift Work Disorder. A new large-scale analysis notes that rapid shift changes (<28 hours) doubles the risk of physician-diagnosed sleep disorder – Night and shift work and incidence of physician-diagnosed sleep disorders in nursing staff: A prospective cohort study.
Leaving aside the devastating human cost, nurses who are exhausted are more likely to leave the job, costing an average of $21,515 per nurse and impacting quality of care: reduced patient satisfaction, increased ulcers, increased falls and medical errors – Noneconomic and economic impacts of nurse turnover in hospitals: A systematic review.
All costs that a healthcare system already under strain can ill-afford.
And yet, a growing number of studies show that dynamic lighting can boost sleep quality, fatigue and mood for night shift workers, with effects that last beyond the initial intervention – The effects of dynamic daylight-like light on the rhythm, cognition, and mood of irregular shift workers in closed environment, The impact of dynamic lighting at nurses’ stations on shift work performance, nurses’ sleep and well-being.
The potential energy savings are massive, too – another factor to consider as the NHS here in the UK aim for net zero healthcare by 2045 – Delivering a net zero NHS. This fascinating PNNL study across four care homes measured a reduction in energy use from the shift from fluorescent to LED technology. The dynamic circadian-aware schedule in the halls, dining and activity, rooms boosted those savings by up to 79% – Lighting in Senior Care Centers: Comparing Tunable LED Systems to Conventional Lighting Systems in Four Senior Care Centers.
Maybe one day, it will be as unacceptable for night shift nurses to work under basic white LED panels as it was to send children down the mine.
Don’t believe the scientists…
David Poxton, Chief Executive at Ashmere Homes and one of our brilliant guests at the Innovators in Healthcare event a couple of weeks ago, was worried his night team would fall asleep in the Circadacare circadian lighting. Instead, he found they were better able to cope with changes in their shift pattern and started to ask for the dynamic lighting in the office too.
With thanks to David for the passionate yet measured presentation.And to our event sponsors Circadacare, Commercial Lighting, Chromaviso and Nobi and our media partners, Light Review, the LIA, Darc Media and Design Lighting. And to my co-chair John Bullock.
Listen to the full recording here.
Saving two days’ staff absence in 11 months
Another guest at our Innovators in Healthcare event, Jim Hempel, Care Home Manager at Herluf Troffe Care Home in Denmark explains that, thanks to the Chromaviso circadian lighting system, some staff had more energy during the day. They complained of fewer headaches compared to the standard lighting and night shift workers found it easier to sleep when they got home.
Over a period of 11 months, staff in the house with circadian lighting had two days less sickness than the rest of the house.
Given the cost of staff – and the impact of staff absence on quality and continuity of care, that’s a win-win-win.
With thanks to Jim Hempel for his passion and determination. And to our event sponsors Circadacare, Commercial Lighting, Chromaviso and Nobi and our media partners, Light Review, the LIA, Darc Media and Design Lighting. And to my co-chair John Bullock.
Listen to the full recording here.