Stochastic models of work and rest schedules

Abstract

Purpose. To develop stochastic models for determining the duration of work and rest schedules that ensure protection of workers from occupational hazards and a high level of labor productivity during a work shift. Methodology. Analysis of scientific literature was applied to determine the purpose and tasks of the research; methods of formalization – to describe the characteristics, dynamics and states of random processes of accumulation and elimination of the consequences of the negative impact of harmful production factors occurring in an worker within the work and rest schedules; methods of semi-Markov processes theory, theories of reliability and recovery – to build stochastic models of work and rest schedules, determine the conditions and probability of a stable mode of their operation. Findings. Stochastic models were developed to determine the duration of work schedules, at the end of which the level of accumulation of the consequences of the negative impact of harmful production factors in the worker will not exceed the set maximum permissible values with a high probability. And such durations of rest schedules, at the end of which this level will be equal to zero (also with a high probability). The condition for ensuring the stable operation of these schedules throughout the entire period of work experience at the workplace was determined by the author. Originality. For the first time an approach to the development of work and rest schedules at workplaces is proposed, which, contrary to others, is based on determining the probabilities of the levels of accumulation of the consequences of the negative impact of harmful production factors in the worker at the end of these schedules, given the actual random and dynamic characteristics of such impact. This, in turn, allows ensuring the protection of the worker both from accidents caused by the fatigue and from professional illness. Practical value. The proposed approach allows increasing the economic efficiency of the enterprise by ensuring a high level of labor productivity, which is achieved by simultaneous development of the maximum possible duration of work and the minimum possible duration of rest schedules, which exclude the worker’s development and occurrence of fatigue and professional illness with a high probability.