Objective In order to devise effective preventive strategies, it is important to study workplace stressors that might increase the risk of workplace accidents − both affecting workers themselves as well as causing harm to third-parties. The aim of this report is to provide a systematic, updated overview and scientific review of empirical research regarding accidents in relation to long work hours and shift work, primarily based on epidemiological studies. MethodsThe search for articles was part of a large review study on the effects of work hours on various health outcomes, safety, and performance. The search strategy included 5 international scientific databases, and nearly 7000 articles were initially identified using our search string. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 443 publications were found and evaluated using a pre-defined scoring system. Of these, 43 concerned safety and accidents but only 14 were considered to be of high quality (total score 2 or 3 on a scale from 0−3) and therefore used for this study.Results Both shift work and long working hours present a substantial and well-documented detrimental effect on safety − all the studies that are included in this review have one or more significant findings in this respect. The trends are quite coherent although the increases in accident rates are mostly from 50% to 100%. In epidemiological terms, these may be considered rather small differences. The use of such data is therefore only of importance if the accident incidence is high or if accidents may have large effects. ConclusionsThe findings are most relevant to safety-critical activities such as the transport and health sectors.Work periods >8 hours carry an increased risk of accidents that cumulates, so that the increased risk of accidents at around 12 hours is twice the risk at 8 hours. Shift work including nights carries a substantial increased risk of accidents, whereas "pure" night work may bring some protection against this effect due to resynchronization. The evaluated studies give no clear indications of any age or gender being specifically susceptible to or protected against the effects of work times scheduling on accident risk.

Rapid extraction of photogenerated charge carriers is essential to achieve high efficiencies with perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, a new mesoscopic architecture as electron‐selective contact for PSCs featuring 40 nm sized TiO2 beads endowed with mesopores of a few nanometer diameters is introduced. The bimodal pore distribution inherent to these films produces a very large contact area of 200 m2 g−1 whose access by the perovskite light absorber is facilitated by the interstitial voids between the particles. Modification of the TiO2 surface by CsBr further strengthens its interaction with the perovskite. As a result, photogenerated electrons are extracted rapidly producing a very high fill factor of close to 80% a VOC of 1.14 V and a PCE up to 21% with negligible hysteresis.

Objective: This study sought to determine if mindfulness training (MT) has a measurable impact on stress and attentional control as measured by objective physiological and psychological means. Background: Periods of persistent, intensive work demands are known to compromise recovery and attentional capacity. The effects of 4-month MT on salivary cortisol and performance on 2 computer-based cognitive tasks were tested on a military helicopter unit exposed to a prolonged period of high workload. Methods: MT participants were compared to a wait list control group on levels of saliva cortisol and performance on a go–no go test and a test of stimulus-driven attentional capture. Participants also reported mental demands on the go–no go test, time of wakeup, sleep duration, quality of sleep, outcome expectancies, physical activity level, self-perceived mindfulness, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results: The results from a mixed between–within analysis revealed that the MT participants compared to the control group had a larger pre to post increase in high- and low-cortisol slopes, and decrease in perceived mental demand imposed by the go–no go test. Conclusion: MT alleviates some of the physiological stress response and the subjective mental demands of challenging tasks in a military helicopter unit during a period of high workload.

New technologies such as night-vision goggles and helmet-mounted displays increase helmet weight, thereby adding a higher strain to the neck even in moderate G environments. More research on specific prevention strategies is warranted in order to improve the in-flight working environment of fighter pilots.

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