Rotation work in the resources sector: a systematic review of the impact on workers’ families

Objective: Rotation work involves travelling to work in remote areas for a block of time and alternate with spending another block of time at home; such work arrangements have become common in the resources sector. The intermittent absence of workers from the home may adversely affect the health of the workers families. This study synthesises research on mental and physical health outcomes in partners and children of the resources sector rotation workers.
Design: A systematic review was conducted. Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Nineteen studies were included and findings were summarised narratively.
Results: The impact of rotation work on the mental health and well-being of partners and children of rotation workers remains unclear. However, on days where spouses are away, partners may experience greater loneliness and poorer sleep quality.
Conclusion: Partners may benefit from support, particularly when they have younger children and/or their spouses first begin rotation work. Research is limited, particularly regarding the impact on health-related behaviours and physical health outcomes.