Stressed Out

Shiftwork, stress and sleeplessness are all taking a toll on the health and family life of waterside workers, according to a new study

Irritability, fatigue, aches and pains, insomnia, marriage breakdown, problems with the kids - all down to shiftwork, job insecurity and substandard shipping.

These are the findings of "The Impact of Shiftwork" a survey of the port workers at BHP Westernport prepared by the Urban Ministry Network and Vicki Koller, a student at La Trobe University, on the invitation of MUA Westernport secretary Bruce Paris.

The survey was conducted in November, 2000 to explore the effects of stress on the workplace and home lives of BHP workers, with results made available a year later.

It was a time when talk of BHP selling its stevedoring operations was already getting around so it was no surprise that workers nominated job insecurity as the number one stress factor at work (52 per cent). But irregular shifts (50 per cent) and problems with equipment, especially on foreign ships of shame (44 per cent) were also major factors.

"Job security. What's around the corner. We have to do overtime because we don't know what's next," said one. "We are losing more and more work," said another. "The workload has been declining over the last six moths," said a third. "We're faced with threats of port closure and work losses to sub contract workers.

Many workers complained of lack of sleep between shifts with one commenting:

"The inability to organise normal lifestyle rituals in advance like family functions is taxing!"

"Irregular shifts cause physical problems, family problems, social problems - it's generally upsetting," said another.

"Ships are sub-standard. This means they are unsafe to work," said a third.

Night shifts were signalled out as the main killer with 63 per cent of the 48 workers surveyed nominating them the main cause of stress on the job. Irregular shifts (61 per cent) were nominated a close second, with excessive noise and dangerous conditions identified as the other main stress factors.

"It's the lack of sleep due to the shiftwork," said one. "I find it hard to sleep in on days off or when on holidays."

"Excessive noise levels lead to headaches and irritability," said another BHP worker.

"Too hot, too cold, being injured at work - not enough money on Workcare. What are you breathing in? Health and safety, too noisy and not enough smoko times," said a third.

"The heat knocks me about and I worry about people being injured," said another.

One in five of those surveyed also nominated conflict or communication difficulties with managers as stressful.

"Managers in this industry are mainly interested in cost cutting and not how the operations could be improved."

Workers were asked to complete a series of tables including the Hastings Stress Symptoms chart. Low energy, reduced sex drive, depression, irritability, memory loss, loss of concentration, back pain, nausea and diarrhoea, high blood pressure and sleep difficulties, were some of the symptoms showing among the workforce. Nearly half found the job literally a pain in the neck (43 per cent), more complained of difficulty sleeping (45 per cent) and more than one in three said stress on the job made them irritable (38 per cent) or suffer back pain (37 per cent).

"Not enough sleep," commented one.

"Sleeping difficulties can mean I'm wide awake at 3am and have to start work at 7am," said another.

"There's not enough time to wind down before having to go bed to get up early for the next shift," said a third.

Others commented that tiredness made them worry about safety on the job and keeping control of machinery. One commented that continual tiredness led to aches and pains.

In some cases loss of sex drive, nausea, loss of appetite and stomach aches were also issues.

But the damage done by shiftwork does not stop there. Tired, irritable men with no time for their families struggle to keep their marriages going and find time for the kids. The majority of workers complained of difficulties balancing parenting responsibilities with work (65 per cent) and marital problems (61 per cent).

"Marriage breakdown is a definite result of shiftwork, which then results in problems with children" said one worker.

"It's never being able to plan anything - not knowing if you'll have a particular day or weekend off, missing kids school events and major life events like birthdays and weddings," was another comment.

"Guesswork." That's how one man described what it was like trying to make family commitments to leisure.

"You have friends you don't see because you never know when you are going to be off," said another.

"Kids tend not to factor in a parent who is more often than not unavailable," was yet another comment.

These problems are twice as big when both mother and father work: "We don't see each other for a day or two," complained one worker.

"Shiftwork and weekend work has virtually made my wife and I live separate lifestyles and now the children are grown up, we are too far apart."

Most of those surveyed said they preferred to talk about their problems with their doctor (28 per cent) or union official (22 per cent). Most others saw a private counsellor (19 per cent) or union funded welfare service.

Fifty five MUA members are employed on that BHP site, with 48 completing the survey. All members were males, holding permanent positions. Most were stevedoring workers, with painters and dockers and mechanics making up around a third. They ranged from 28 to 62 years of age and most had worked in the industry between 15 and 26 years.

In its conclusion the report noted that until recently work related stress had been a neglected area in workers health and safety. In Westernport it was a significant problem for members.

"Job insecurity and work hours associated with shiftwork are leading factors in their work related stress," it said. "The data here may assist the MUA to pinpoint the priority areas that need to be rectified to remove the negative effects of work-related stress."

Full copies of the report and survey forms for delegates use on other job sites can be found on the MUA website (www.mua.org.au).