Applications of American Time Use Survey to worker safety and health

Objective: This study seeks to provide a national profile, by occupation and industry, of how American workers allocate their time between work and family life.

Methods: The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) was used. ATUS is a representative sample of persons age 15 or older living in U.S. households. It includes 20-minute telephone interviews in which each participant was asked about the sequential activities they engaged in on the previous day. The sample used in this study included full-time workers who worked on the day they were reporting on during the interview.

Results: Although the American workers typically spent 8.5 hours at work each weekday, this varied significantly by industry and occupation. Workers in agriculture/mining and transportation/utilities industries spent 9.4 and 8.9 hours, respectively, at work, while workers in physician/surgeon and driver/sales worker/ truck driver occupations spent 10.3 and 9.7 hours, respectively, at work. In addition, workers in driver/sales worker/truck driver and registered nurse occupations were more likely work at night. Increased work time and irregular shifts meant less time for other activities, such as sleep. This tradeoff may lead to an increased risk of workplace injuries and a decreased sense of well-being. For example, the poor health of truck drivers and their high risk of occupational injuries are believed to be linked to their long work hours and irregular work schedule.

Conclusion: Studying the way workers allocate their time between work and home-life will contribute to a richer understanding and more meaningful evaluation of worker safety and health.