# Night workers need more protections, says TUC

By Ruth Wilkinson — 2025-10-24

Ruth Wilkinson, head of policy and public affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said: “There’s no doubt shift work can impact workers’ sleep and levels of fatigue, their psychological and physical health, social isolation and quality of life.

“This was confirmed by an independent, international research study we commissioned.

“Shift work leads to a greater risk of workers being injured, with those working night shifts having a 25-30 per cent higher risk of injury than those working day shifts.

“It’s not so clear how abnormal work patterns affect health but the disturbance of biological rhythms over many years may well have negative long-term effects which, given the trend towards later retirement, is a potential workplace concern.

“Shift work is thought to disrupt the body clock, sleep and family and social life. The disruptions can result in acute effects on mood and performance, which can lead to chronic effects on mental health.

“It’s therefore important that shift work is managed as part of risk assessment processes, and that action is taken to reduce those risks.

“One of the actions should be to seek other options to zero-hour contracts and that offer the same level of care for health, safety and wellbeing as that enjoyed by permanent employees.

“This could include offering minimum hour contracts, or providing upfront agreements between workers that provide stability on working hours.”

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