Sign Cube Co., Ltd.
SignCube Co., Ltd. begins joint research with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Japan Organization for Occupational Health and Safety
~Using wearable devices to conduct work shift research on fatigue recovery for care workers~
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The Reiwa 5th edition of the Aging Society White Paper
(https://www8.cao.go.jp/kourei/whitepaper/w-2023/zenbun/05pdf_index.html
In response to these issues, the government is improving working conditions and promoting various measures to secure human resources. On the other hand, one of the important measures for nursing care providers is to improve the working environment of nursing care workers and prevent them from leaving their jobs while promoting health and improving work styles.
SignCube Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as SignCube) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (hereinafter referred to as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), Independent Administrative Agency, Japan Occupational Health and Safety Agency (hereinafter referred to as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) have discovered the results of optimizing shift schedules for nursing care workers. We would like to inform you that we have decided to conduct a joint research
(hereinafter referred to as “this research”) to investigate the effects of reducing work burden and stress on the physical and mental health of care workers.
[Image 1
(Experiment overview briefing session)
■Joint research destination: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Japan Organization for Occupational Health and Safety
■Research theme: Research on preventing overwork by visualizing signs of fatigue ■Implementation period: October 25, 2022 to February 28, 2023 ■Contents of joint research:
Confirm the mental and physical strain on workers who worked shifts automatically created by Synchro Shift using questionnaires and monitoring equipment.
Visualize signs of fatigue and understand and verify trends in overwork using biological data obtained from wearable devices linked to Synchro Shift.
System verification, demonstration experiments, and necessary development at shift work sites
Effectiveness verification, development, and application of applied technologies obtained from the above research to other industries, etc.
■Role division:
[Sign cube]
・Provision of shift management system “Synchro Shift”
・Introduction support for nursing care facilities
[Institute of Occupational Safety and Health]
・Analysis of the current state of fatigue in nursing care facilities that have introduced shift work with night shifts
・Organizing the conditions for shift work patterns that are desirable for recovering from fatigue
– Examining the impact on worker fatigue when working shifts that are automatically created by synchro shift and are desirable for fatigue recovery using various measurement indicators
◆Introduction of joint research
Some of the results of the joint research were introduced at the following academic conferences.
■Conference name: The Work, Stress, and Health Conference
(https://www.apa.org/wsh)
■Theme: Work, stress, health
■Event period: November 8th to 11th, 2023
■Organizer:
・American Psychological Association
・National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
・Society for Occupational Health Psychology
■Summary and purpose:
This conference focuses on stress at work and its effects, and aims to share knowledge about the latest research results, academic theories, and useful approaches and methods in the field.
The aim is to improve understanding of the health effects of stress at work and to provide information on providing effective work
environments and psychological support.
■Research overview:
[Image 3
(Survey overview map)
・Target: Nursing care workers at workplaces with night shifts ・Method: Comparing shifts using synchronized shifts and shifts created manually by shift managers
・Period: 2 months each
・Survey: Using a wearable device, we obtained indicators such as sleep onset time, REM sleep*3, and deep sleep. A survey was also conducted at the same time.
■Introducing joint research at academic conferences:
At this conference, a joint study on shift management for nursing care workers on night shifts was introduced. At this stage, we are beginning to see the possibility that the quality of sleep of care workers will improve during the period in which SynchroShift is operated, and this is a new step toward health support. There are increasing expectations for future research and practice.
■Future outlook:
In the future, we plan to conduct a more detailed analysis, focus on the effects of introducing synchronized shifts, and investigate whether we are able to provide shifts that help workers recover from stress and fatigue, both mentally and physically.
◆Future developments
SignCube plans to provide various solutions using ICT and other technologies in order to realize its vision of “creating efficiency and valuable communication to create beautiful smiles and healing moments in medical, welfare, and nursing care settings.” doing. As the first step, we will provide the shift management system “Synchro Shift” to solve inefficiency issues and mental and physical health issues related to the medical and nursing care industries. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is a research institute located within the Japan Occupational Health and Safety Agency, an independent administrative agency under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and is responsible for preventing accidents in the workplace, maintaining and promoting the health of workers, and preventing occupational diseases. The purpose of this institute is to contribute to ensuring the safety and health of workers in the workplace by conducting comprehensive investigations and research on the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and other matters related to occupational diseases.
◆Company overview
Company name: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Japan Labor Health and Safety Organization
Address: 6-21-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture 214-8585 (Noborito District)
HP: https://www.jniosh.johas.go.jp/index.html
Company name: Sign Cube Co., Ltd.
Representative Director: Fumihiko Sato
Address: 2-20-7 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0045
Established: September 1, 2021
Business content: Service planning, development, and operation of the shift management system “Synchro Shift”
HP: https://hp.syncube.co.jp/
Owned media Shift Life: https://shiftlife.jp/
Contact us: https://hp.syncube.co.jp/contact_form
◆How to apply for advance registration
If you would like to use SynchroShift, we are looking for companies to monitor, so please apply using the form below.
■Application form: https://synchroseries.jp/synchroshift/pre_entry_form *1 Working age population: Refers to the population of a country whose age constitutes the core labor force engaged in domestic production activities, and is primarily defined as the population between the ages of 15 and 64.
*2 Wearable device: A computer device worn on the wrist, arm, head, etc. Examples of typical wearable devices include smart watches, which are worn on the wrist like a wristwatch, and smart glasses, which are worn like glasses.
*3 REM sleep: Refers to the stage of sleep when the brain is actively working and memories are organized and consolidated. It is called REM sleep because during REM sleep, there is rapid eye movement, in which the eyes move rapidly.