Hello forum users,

I have had a query relating to the affects of fasting on employees blood sugar levels. Is there any research, what have other organisations done to combat this possibility etc etc? Should there be restrictions on work activity e.g. operating machinery etc.

Some organisation shave said that they alter shift patterns so that those who are fasting work night shifts - but this I could see might present an arguement of intolerance - what are your views?

Professional considered replies please - Steve

Although this is a religious related issue, several faiths fast at some time or other so as long as you traet anyone who fasts in the same way, I think anyone arguing intolerance would be on dodgy ground. Come to that, a 12-hour fast is also required before certain medical tests, so it isn't exclusively religious.

Anyway, the response - this was a significant issue at my previous workplace, where a significant number of the machinery operators were observant Muslims who fasted during Ramadan. We encouraged shift swaps so that those fasting were on nights where possible (bearing in mind the need to preserve skill mix, etc - and of course some individuals didn't swap as they felt they weren't really fasting if they were asleep through most of the fast period). Where individuals stayed on days, we arranged the shift so that those fasting had a break starting at Sundown - and they arranged between themselves that just before the break started, someone would go out for a takeaway so they were getting a decent meal.

Something else to bear in mind is that some Muslim communities don't drink (anything) during the fast period - because our workplace was hot (food production), they had special permission from their Imams to ignore this, but it's worth considering.

Dear Clairel,

if the search functionality worked I would use it, as it invariably doesn't then I don't... one for the IOSH IT team to sort out pronto me thinks... and before you ask, I've just tried again and... nope still not working.

But then IT doesn't seem to work well wherever i've worked so it's not something I shall lose sleep over ;)

Have a nice weekend x

Hello Steve
You may find the practice is more widespread than first appears, and quite often happens in the spring - nothing to do with religion, it just called dieting!
Cheers!

I don't see why the question is about effect on blood sugar levels. Who is able to interpret that? Surely what matters is any effect on the ability to do the job safely.

Indeed, but if the answer is that the effect on blood sugar levels is an x % drop or a drop to y mg/litre where x or y is a number - which of us is able to interpret that information?

It's worth adding that low blood sugar levels and their adverse effects can also occur in anyone through prolonged or particularly strenuous effort/exercise, especially if they haven't consumed appropriate energy type food or drink (alias 'body fuel') for a while. Many years ago a friend and I competed in a Karrimor Mountain Marathon and ran the final few miles without eating anything, not even sweets, in a bid to finish in what for us would be a reasonable time. When we reached the finish, we felt absolutely knackered and slightly dizzy. However, very soon afterwards we each had a large mug of very sugary tea and made a rapid recovery - which led us to realise that our blood sugars must have become notably low. From that we learnt the value of having sweets or other energy food readily to hand and consuming them when engaged in prolonged bouts of strenuous effort during future similar events.

Those of you who have been following David Walliams recent epic sponsored 140 mile swim down the River Thames will have seen from the statistics that he expended a phenomenal 68,044 calories before completing his swim today. Imagine the amounts and types of food he needed at fairly regular intervals to keep him going over the past 8 days. Also, while on this topic, let's hope that he hasn't contracted any infections from the sewage in the river. With this risk alone, let alone the various physical ones associated with swimming in a river like the Thames, it's no wonder the website devoted to the swim rightly includes a clear warning to people who might be thinking of copying the swim.

Sounds to me like you put your search criteria in the wrong box - there are two: searching for the the name of a forum user (the top box) and searching for a subject matter (the box called posts). Make sure you tick OSH Discussion at the top left too.