Working Hours and Occupational Safety and Health

About this course

Shift work has become an integral part of modern economies, but it also presents significant challenges for workers’ health, safety, and well-being. Irregular or extended working hours are linked to stress, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and increased risks of chronic illness and workplace accidents, making it essential to identify risks and develop effective preventive health and safety measures.

This course addresses the broad spectrum of shiftwork i.e., extended working hours, night shiftwork and the associated safety and health impacts. It also highlights the underlying biological mechanisms related to the development of negative health outcomes and potential biomarkers of effect. The course will focus on shift work interventions, particularly in rotating and night shifts, which show promises for mitigating negative effects. Further, the course will explore the theoretical and methodological considerations in working hours research. 

Course objectives

The main aim of the course is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the diversity of working hours, focusing on their health and safety impacts, and to introduce tools to critically evaluate and design research and intervention studies, to mitigate adverse effects and promote sustainable work environments.

Sub-objectives

• Understand the broad spectrum of working hour
  arrangements in modern work environment and their effects on health, well-being, and safety.
• Develop a mechanistic understanding of how irregular and extended working hours influence short-term and long-term health outcomes.
• Explore workplace and lifestyle interventions, policy measures, and employer actions that mitigate adverse effects and
  promote sustainable work environments.
• Critically assess current theoretical and methodological frameworks in working hours research.
• Acquire skills to design and evaluate studies addressing the links
  between working hours, health, and safety.

Main Topics

• The diversity of working hours schedules
• Shift work (or irregular working hours) and occupational
  safety and health 
• Shift work intervention and prevention strategies
• Theoretical and methodological considerations in
  working hours research

Target groups

• PhD-students
• Researchers and practitioners
• Occupational health and safety professionals
• Workers and employer’s organisation representatives, labour
  inspection authorities

General course fee and cancellation information

The courses and workshops vary in price. Please note that the course fee does not cover meals or accommodation. The course fee and day-package fee are invoiced after the registration deadline.

Travel arrangements

Please refrain from booking any travel tickets until we have confirmed the course. The confirmation, which will be sent at the latest after the registration deadline, will include detailed information on the payment of the course fee and day-packages, as well as information on practical arrangements. Please note that you are not insured by NIVA.

Accessibility and Inclusion

Our venues for organising courses have carefully considered accessibility to ensure they cater to the needs of all participants. For detailed information about the course venues accessibility features, please visit STAMI:s webpage.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received by 30th of July 2026: full refund
Cancellations received by 31st of July 2026 or later: no refund

NIVA will issue an invoice or send information on how to pay the course with credit card (depending on the option chosen in the registration form) after the registration deadline.

The price is subject to minor changes.

Contact persons

Course leaders

Heidi Lammers-van der Host, ass. Prof. Erasmus Medical Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark
email: h.lammers-vanderholst@erasmusmc.nl

Anne Helene Garde, Professor, MSc, PhD, National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA/NRCWE), Copenhagen, Denmark
email: ahg@nfa.dk

Johanna Samulin-Erdem, Seniorforsker – Arbeidstoksikologi, STAMI- The National Institute of Occupational Health Norway
email: johanna.samulin.erdem@stami.no

In practical matters, please contact:

Nathalie Räihä, Project Manager at NIVA
email: nathalie.raiha@niva.org