The shiftwork and nightwork system, for going against human nature, wich is eminently a day one, harms a worker's health from a physical, psychic, emotional and social point of view. Acute manifestations such as isomnia, excessive s/eepness during work hours, changes of humor, increased rates of accidents and family problems, as well as chronic manifestations assleep disorders, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, separation and divorce, make up signs and symptoms of Shiftwork Maladaptation Syndrome. This work sought to investigate Shiftwork Maladaptation Syndrome, and to analyze Night Work. By means of questionnaires, chronobiology aspects, biological and psicossocial variables have been researched such as related to shift and night work in a Santa Catarina enterprise working with ceramic products, where a non - rotatory shift work system is employed. The study of the case showed that 7 in 5 workers presented at least one of maladaptation symptoms when placed on shift and night work, and that at least 10% at workers exhibited symptomatology identified with shiftwork maladaptation syndrome.
Shiftwork maladaptation syndrome; shiftwork; nightwork