Enhancing the Well-being of Shift Workers.

Our research association supports "April Dream," which aims to make April 1st a day to express dreams. This press release is the dream of "NOB Shiftwork Research Association."

1｜The Background of Our Dream ― The Invisible Burden of Work Supporting Society

Healthcare, nursing care, logistics, manufacturing, social infrastructure.

Our lives are supported by people working night shifts and rotating shifts. Our recent survey shows that one in four workers is engaged in shift work.

However, it is scientifically known that these work styles go against the human body clock, increasing sleep disturbances and health risks.

Nevertheless, in the field, "It can't be helped." "We just have to manage it with individual efforts." This premise has continued for a long time.

While many studies show that shift work increases health risks that negatively affect productivity, research on solutions for improvement is limited. We want to re-examine this "norm."

2｜What is the NOB Shiftwork Research Association? ― Born to Connect Science and Practice

The NOB Shiftwork Research Association was established to find ways to minimize health impacts from night shifts, rotating shifts, and jet lag, based on scientific knowledge of biological rhythms and sleep.

Researchers and practitioners from diverse specialized fields such as medicine, physiology, sleep science, data science, and business administration gather, valuing "not ending with research" and "making it usable in the field."

Anyone interested in "enhancing the well-being of shift workers" can participate in the research association. We especially welcome the participation of corporate managers, work schedule managers, and health managers.

3｜Our Activities ― From "Knowing" to "Changing"

The research association conducts the following activities: - Holding regular online seminars on night shifts and rotating shifts - Making social recommendations through symposiums at academic conferences - Sharing comprehensive discussions and practices including sleep, body clock, light environment, rest, and work design

Our goal is not to "teach how to work hard," but to create systems that can be sustained without overworking.

4｜What We Hope to See in Society with This Dream

The health challenges of night shifts and rotating shifts are not just a problem for a few people. Our medical care, logistics, and daily security are built upon these working styles. Even if some work styles are unavoidable, ways and systems can be changed through knowledge. Understanding sleep and internal rhythms not only protects workers but also leads to stability and productivity in the workplace, and sustainable work styles. And the bodies of individual night and shift workers deserve to be protected before they are pushed too hard. Even without changing everything, small daily awareness and ingenuity can support health.

First, from knowing. Revisiting systems, Taking care of oneself.

These small accumulations, we believe, will create a society where people can continue working healthily even with night shifts and rotating shifts.

That is the April Dream of the NOB Shiftwork Research Association.

### 【Comment from the Chairman】

Night shifts and rotating shifts are essential work styles for supporting society. That is why we believe that health should not be sacrificed as a premise. Traditional shift work countermeasures often remain reactive, such as "deciding what to do and what not to do" or "tweaking points to improve." However, the essence of the shift work problem lies in the desynchronization (misalignment) between work, sleep/rest rhythms, and internal rhythms like body temperature. We believe that more scientific and proactive interventions are needed. If we can connect scientific knowledge about sleep and internal rhythms with practical experience cultivated in the field, we should be able to realize a society where people can continue working healthily even with night shifts and rotating shifts. This issue cannot be solved by a few experts alone. We would like to think and act together with those who consider work styles in companies, those who work in the field, and many others who show interest. NOB Shiftwork Research Association Chairman Seiji Nishino (Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine / Director, Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine)

NOB Shiftwork Research Association Overview

Chairman: Seiji Nishino (Stanford University) Chairman: Masaki Nishida (Waseda University) Representative Director and Vice Chairman: Takashi Maruyama (University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan) Vice Chairman: Yumiko Higami (Higami ENT & Snoring/Sleep Clinic)

URL: https://nob-shiftwork.com/ Contact: https://nob-shiftwork.com/contact/