Lighting and the Circadian Rhythm of Night Shift Workers

The human factor of lighting is examined through the elements of sunlight, blue light, and how it affects the circadian rhythm, and ultimately how it impacts the work schedule of workers. The intricacies of light and human vision are explored to zero in on the issues with disrupting the circadian rhythm for these employees. Modifications can be incorporated into the design of the working environment to improve efficiency, productivity, safety, and job satisfaction in an effort to deal with these issues. Recommendations are provided in an effort to mitigate or reduce the disturbances to the circadian rhythm and improve overall performance for night shift workers. This article is available in the ASME Digital Collection at https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4044788.