EU to study health of employees suffering effects of working long hours

THE effects on patients when doctors are forced to work long hours, or on road users when lorry drivers have to make long journeys, are to be studied by the EU.

They will also look at the effect on the health of employees required to work more than 45 hours a week as part of a major study on rules for working hours across the union.

The current law says the average hours worked each week should be 48, but at least one in 10 put in much longer hours. Some, such as doctors and lorry drivers, work in sensitive jobs where being stressed or tired could have serious consequences for others.