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Posted By Michael Mackay
Ignoring the requirements of the working time directive (!!) I would be interested to here what arrangements other companies have for: Maximum number of hours an employee can work without a break, minimum number of hours that person must take off before they can return to work and the maximum number of consequtive days a person can work without having a day off
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Posted By Lee Daniels
The UK Railway Industry works to the following recommendations on working hours.
Maximum shift length = 12 hours
Minimum rest period = 12 hours
Maximum working hours in a week = 72 hours
No more than 13 shifts worked in any 14 day period.
Whilst these limits have no legal basis they were recommended following a public inquiry into a serious train accident and many rail industry companies use them as a basis for complying with the Railway (Safety Critical Work) Regulations.
A new draft ACOP available on the HSE website CD199 "Proposals for new safety regulations for the railway industry" contains the latest proposed guidance from HSE which could be applied to other industries.
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Posted By Kevin Drew
In my previous life in the power industry workers were generally allowed to work 6 days on followed by a rest day or 12 days on followed by 2 rest days. The maximum shift length was 12 hours. Traditionally, workers were entitled to a break every 4 hours. At the time these were not standard throughout the industry with different power stations having thier own rules. These rules were, on the whole, quite well followed although reluctantly by some.
As to rest between work periods this was nominally 12 hours although this was commonly flouted. It wasn't that unusual for workers to work a night shift finishing at 0700 hours and return for an evening shift at 1400 hours. Similarly, work a morning shift finishing at 1400 hours and return for a night shift at 2200 hours.
Hope this helps
Kevin
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Posted By steve e ashton
cd199 makes very interesting reading for those who may have thought the 'Hidden' recommendations hours for safety critical workers in the rail industry were designed to protect employees.
The problems of welfare and quality of life - and chronic fatigue - are not addressed by the railway industry working time standards for safety critical workers - and they do NOT comply with the legal obligations in the working time regs unless each individual involved has voluntarily 'opted out' of his / her protection under the Regs.
Don't go hunting too far on the 'net - I previously came across NASA research that indicated individuals can remain awake and alert for up to 96 hours [with a little pharma assistance....]. And don't go looking for 'watch officer' standards on coastal shipping - a lot of ships have run aground because the watch officer couldn't stay awake for the duration of the duty expected...
In a previous life, (following a fatality on the road as a very tired employee was driving home after extended hours dealing with a serious emergency...] we adopted an 'absolute maximum continuous single shift even in emergency conditions no exception'... standard of 16 hours. We then required a minimum of twelve hours recovery and then reversion to more acceptable 10 hours rostered / 12 hours rest. the 10 hours was supposed to be a standard eight plus two covering for incoming - so we had to arrange a three shift emergency cover plan that stretched the organisation an awfy long way, but was eventually workable.
Any routine pattern of work that involves more than the working time regs average weekly hours is likely to result in fatigue and be difficult to justify in the event of any legal claim at a later date.
Hope you find a suitable standard for your own situation....
Steve
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