Working Overtime Raises Injury, Illness Risk

No mater what kind of job you are into, double shifts and overtime puts you in danger of injuries and illness. The research was done on 5, 100 work related injuries and illnesses. The results showed that more than half of them were during extended working hours. The number goes up to 61 % of more risk.
However, no risk was found in long commutes. This is interpreted in a way that workers’ feel that overtime is more time than one should be doing, and because of that are more stressed.
In the United States, up to a third of overtime is compulsory.
The most frequent injuries and illnesses are musculoskeletal disorders (35%), cuts and bruises ( 25%), heart disease, fatigue, stress, depression, diabetes and other.
Knowing all of this, it is high time somebody made appropriate amendments with respect to law for working standards and conditions.

Due to the recent downturn in the global economy, companies and employers are cutting down on overtime to save money. I would imagine this will translate into less injuries and illnesses for the workers because they will be less fatigued and stressed, even though their take home pay will be less. If the workers take public transportation in long commutes, they get to take short naps on the bus or train during their commute, and most probably will be less stressed and fatigued than workers who have to drive long distances to and from work. Companies should be educated of the fact that overtime can have an adverse effect on the health of their employees. Increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and increase in insurance liability for their workers will ultimately hit their bottom line.