24hr shifts, can you work them ?

[si the fire]

Hi all, could anyone advise me if you can legally work a 24hr shift, the contractor that i currently work for is refusing to implement a 24 on 72 off shift that we have proposed stating it breaches work time regulations. We have all signed a wavier to work over a 48hr a week when it suits them and under the previous contractor we did work the 24/72 shift, we have tried to research this as far as google will allow but the best we can find is that it is a "grey" area, any advice or links would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Si

[Richard1966]

I have found the following but I know it can be more complicated than this as in some circumstances employers are allowed to average your working hours over a period of several weeks. Its not so much grey, as so multicoloured it can be difficult to know which band of the rainbow to follow.


Nearly all workers have the right not to have to work for more than 48 hours on average, a week. Night workers cannot work an average of more than eight hours in each 24 hour period. Workers aged 18 and over (adult workers) are entitled to one day off each week. Workers aged 16-18 (adolescent workers) are entitled to two days off each week. Adult workers are entitled to eleven hours consecutive rest per day, and a minimum 20 minute rest break if their working day is longer than six hours. Adolescent workers are entitled to 12 hours consecutive rest per day, and a minimum 30 minute rest break if they work for longer than four and a half hours

[Buenchico]

I can remember (in my student vacations) working 24 hours on, 12 hours off every day for 6 weeks! (I've even worked 36 hours on, 12 hours off, for extended periods)

24 hour shifts remain legal, as long as there is a minimum of 11 hours from the end of one shift to the start of the next one (and you get an uninterrupted break of 24 hours once per week, or 48 hours once per fortnight). Further, your only legal entitlement to a break during the 24 hour period is to a single (unpaid) break of 20 minutes.

The 48-hour weekly limit is irrelevant anyway since (when calculated over a 17 week period) you only average around 42½ hours per week.

http://www.direct.gov...sAndTimeOff/index.htm

Chris

[Manpie]

Simply, no.

[buildersmate]

Manpie
A wrong guess, unfortunately.
Chris has it right.

[si the fire]

This is why I hold this site in such high regard, cheers guys, that's awesome, just got to convince the powers that be now !

[Hopkirk]

It could be different if you have to drive as part of your job.

[buildersmate]

Bear in mind that you have no right to demand continuance of this long shift pattern. The company could reasonably say that it is not part of their policy to ask employees to work such a long shift on health grounds to their staff or enhanced risk of an accident.
We are merely saying that there is apparently no employment legislation to prevent it.

[si the fire]

I work as a firefighter for a contractor so there is an element of driving involved but when we previously worked this we swapped drivers mid way through the shift and it's not like it's constant driving. The contractor has constantly used the " it's illegal " line with us and has refused to even discuss it further, we are trying to show them it's not and in fact it could save them money as well as us and also gain a lot of good will of the employees. At the end if the day if they won't budge then at least we can put this to bed and move on, the whole discussion/issue has dragged on for over a year, there's been a change of management as well so were hoping they may also be a bit more sympathetic.

Si

[EDDIE51]

The Fire service operate a system of 'Watches' I know several firefighters.
When you are 'on watch' you stay at the fire station for 4 days (I think)
Obviously you are not working all the time and the crews sleep and eat at the station. They can be called out any time during their 'watch' is this what you mean rather than a 24 hour shift in a factory ? If so this is fully legal and standard practice in the fire service.
I also know a fire fighter who works at an airport , he does a 24 hour 'watch' then has 2 days off before the next 'watch' again he can sleep and eat while on watch but has to be ready at all times for a 'shout'

[si the fire]

It's more like the airport role you mention, eat, sleep and "other" in station for 24hrs followed by 3 days off, it's great for family life plus it's only half the journeys per month 70miles round trip per shift at the moment.

[EDDIE51]

Then it is not a 'shift' in the normal way . I am sure this is legal as it is the way fire crews work at airports and airfields . My friend has worked this system at Cambridge Marshalls airport and Duxford .
You need to get the employers to realise that the normal rules for shift work do not apply in this case. Prehaps the Fire brigade union would have information on the 'watch' system.