Sufficient rest is a key to performing well on the job, preventing accidents, and ensuring the musculoskeletal system functions normally. Taking microbreaks of a minute or two every 20 minutes helps to rest the upper and lower body, the eyes, neck, and back. Light stretching exercises every hour or two keep workers feeling alert.
Benefits of Micro Breaks
In a study of the effects of fatigue on manual laborers at the University of Alberta, evidence indicated that there’s a connection between short rest breaks, fatigue, and injury. Participants in a study wore body sensors while moving heavy boxes. One group didn’t take breaks. The second group took micro-breaks. The group that took breaks every ten minutes experienced less muscle fatigue and had less risk of on-the-job accidents. The study concluded that one of the primary causes of musculoskeletal injuries is lifting objects improperly or overexertion. Injuries may affect the spinal column, the joints, muscles, or tendons. People may lift heavy objects properly by squatting and bending the knees. When fatigue sets in, they may slouch to compensate, and that’s when injuries can result.
Legally Required Breaks
States have laws regulating regular breaks and rest for most workers. In California, workers receive a 30-minute meal break if they work five hours as well as 10-minute breaks every four hours. The CDC has conducted research into required rest breaks and how they can prevent injuries in the workplace. There is a significant relationship between on-the-job injuries and rest breaks. The study indicated that day shift workers with rest breaks were able to work longer and with less fatigue and fewer injuries and errors than night shift workers. Workers at night slept less and had poor sleep quality in comparison to day shift workers. Night-shift personnel may need more frequent or longer breaks during their shifts.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health provides training for nurses on shifts. One way to avoid workplace accidents due to fatigue is to commit to a schedule of meals and rest breaks during shifts with other duties. Encouraging nurses to have coverage while they’re taking a break creates a system that runs efficiently. Researchers are unsure about how long the effects of taking rest breaks last. The factors may include the amount of sleep a worker gets, how long they’ve been awake, the time spent on certain tasks, and the circadian rhythm, which is affected by the time of day.
Managers can implement plans to ensure worker health and safety without losing productivity. Creating a safe work environment, including regular breaks for meals and rest during the shift, can prevent workplace injuries. On-the-job accidents can sometimes be the result of a worker not having the physical ability to perform required tasks. Employees should be trained about the importance of following safety protocol. A good example is nurses or CNAs who transfer patients from their bed to a wheelchair without injury to the patient or caregivers. If a caregiver hasn’t had the proper amount of rest or doesn’t have the physical strength to transfer people in their care, accidents may result.
Lack of Breaks Leads to Burnout
There’s a high incidence of burnout among professionals in the healthcare industry that affects nurses, patients and society. Studies concluded that regular rest breaks can decrease burnout in RNs, especially with sufficient support for management and staffing. When working a long shift without taking a break, cognitive problems, including a lack of concentration and decision making. After lengthy periods without sufficient breaks, some healthcare workers develop what’s known as decision fatigue. Helpful suggestions may be to make taking a break a priority. If you can’t take a full break, pause for a couple of minutes and do some stretching or deep breaths. Varying your work tasks during your shift improves cognition.