Psychosocial impacts of rotational shifts on safety Behaviours: Mental fatigue and environmental protocol adherence in GCC oil refineries, stratified by demographic factors

One of the most peculiar features common to the management of human resources in the oil refineries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is the use of rotational shift patterns to ensure continuous operations 24/7 that require humans to be vigilant throughout. In this paper, the psychosocial effects of rotational shift work on mental fatigue and compliance with environmental safety procedures of refinery workers are explored, focusing on demographic stratification factors such as age, nationality, tenure and job role in the GCC member states. An integrative literature review of the occupational health, chronobiology, safety science, and migration literature identifies strong associations between shifts of rotation, especially backward-rotating (night-to-day) shifts, and heightened mental fatigue, circadian disruption, and lower safety compliance. The results of multiple studies suggest a prevalence of chronic fatigue among workers who do the opposite of what they are supposed to do (58% for B.R. workers, 18% for permanent day workers), and compliance rates for migrant workers are much lower (62-65%) than the target of 90%. These effects are not experienced equally by all: migrant workers who are exposed to the Kafala sponsorship system are more vulnerable, as younger and less experienced workers and workers who are on night shifts. The paper recognizes a critical psychosocial-environmental relationship, whereby cognitive impairment that occurs from fatigue reduces the ability of workers to follow environmental safety protocols. A Psychosocial-Environmental Linkage Model (PELM) is suggested to represent causal pathways, while eight data visualizations show the stratified effects. Chronobiology-inspired shift scheduling, culturally sensitive fatigue management programs and policy changes on the nexus of migration management and work safety are recommended.