Shift work isn't natural, our bodies haven't (yet) evolved to handle it. Working unusual shift patterns and nights has been implicated in a number of health issues ranging from sleep deprivation to cancer.

The latest study on the subject has found a significant link between shift work and the potential for injury. Their paper, Shift work trends and risk of work injury among Canadian workers, is published by the Scandanavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. The researchers found a significant link between night work & rotating shifts and increased work related injury.

The researchers conclude:

Rotating and night shift workers appear to have a higher risk of work injury, particularly among women. Regulatory agencies and employers need to identify and mitigate factors that give rise to increased work injury among these types of shift workers.