Work shift system as a part of enhanced work well-fare and ensuring operational safety

The purpose of this thesis was to study the exertion level of VTS operators in different shift working models as a part of enhancing work welfare and to ensure operational safety in all operations. Maintaining high level of alertness in long work shifts and the ability to recover from work shift changes has great role in the aspect of safety as well as in individual well-being. Research was conducted for the operative personnel in South-Western Finland Vessel Traffic Center. The study was participated by 29 of 34 operatives and shift supervisors. Research was made by using qualitative and quantitative methods with Webropol-program and its purpose were to gather as much as possible first-hand information about the managing, recovering and periodizing of work in operators’ daily living in shift work. Research was launched to investigate how the present shift work models affect in the well-being of the operators. Research revealed that most the operators are satisfied of the present work shift models in use and in the prevailing opportunities to choose between two work shift models. Results of the research are recorded under according subtitles. Conclusions: contrary to the prevailing studies of the benefits in the clockwise shift rotation, the majority of operators are more willing to work in anti-clockwise winding shift rotation to maximize the recovery and social life needs in the free time. Results of this research were taken into consideration by company to improve the well-being of employees