Risks associated with fatigue that accumulates during work shifts have historically been managed through working time arrangements that specify fixed maximum durations of work shifts and minimum durations of time off. By themselves, such arrangements are not sufficient to curb risks to performance, safety, and health caused by misalignment between work schedules and the biological regulation of waking alertness and sleep. Science-based approaches for determining shift duration and mitigating associated risks, while addressing operational needs, require: 1) a recognition of the factors contributing to fatigue and fatigue-related risks; 2) an understanding of evidence-based countermeasures that may reduce fatigue and/or fatigue-related risks; and 3) an informed approach to selecting workplace-specific strategies for managing work hours. We propose a series of guiding principles to assist stakeholders with designing a shift duration decision-making process that effectively balances the need to meet operational demands with the need to manage fatigue-related risks.

历史上，与轮班期间累积的疲劳相关的风险一直是通过工作时间安排来管理的，该安排规定了固定的最长轮班时间和最短休息时间。就其本身而言，此类安排不足以遏制由于工作时间表与清醒警觉性和睡眠的生物调节之间的失调而导致的绩效、安全和健康风险。在满足运营需求的同时，确定轮班时间和减轻相关风险的基于科学的方法需要： 1) 认识导致疲劳和疲劳相关风险的因素； 2) 了解可减少疲劳和/或疲劳相关风险的循证对策； 3) 采取明智的方法来选择针对特定工作场所的工作时间管理策略。我们提出了一系列指导原则，帮助利益相关者设计轮班持续时间决策流程，有效平衡满足运营需求的需求和管理疲劳相关风险的需求。