Night Shift Hours

[10ClarionSt]

Is there a maximum number of hours for a full week of working a night shift? I have heard that it is against the law to work more than 8 hours per night. Can anyone confirm this please?

[tomestone]

Log on to the DTI web site/ heading european working time directive

[shammydodger]

It is not illegal. I work 12 hour shifts on a continental shift basis. I am a union health and safety rep, so I ought to know what I'm talking about. You are entitled to an 11 hour rest period between shifts, unless (and its a big unless) the job is specialised to determine otherwise. As for the maximum hours in a week, this is still 48. Nobody can force you to work more hours than this, but with your consent you are entitled to do so.

[THECORBYLOON]

One site states "As a night worker, you shouldn't work more than an average of eight hours in each 24-hour period, (excluding overtime). This average is calculated over a 17 week period. You can't opt out of the night working limit."

[shammydodger]

Correct Corbyloon. Which explains why, even though I work 12 hour night shifts, that I get 14-19 days off every 8 weeks. That brings the average down to 8 hours per night over 17 weeks.

[THECORBYLOON]

I wasn't doubting you but I was trying to show how the supposed "maximum" of eight hours for a night-shift came about.

[shammydodger]

Corbyloon

No, I wasn't doubting that you were doubting me. I was just providing the info in order to reinforce or, rather, support what you were saying about the period over which things were calculated. In fact, that is something I didn't know (the 17 week thingy). I'd always wondered what the basis was for getting so much time off work. Not that I'm complaining!