Rank: Forum user 
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I have come across a scenario where site management are restricting or risk assessing out the option for engineers to work beyond 65 hours in a week. They work throughout day and cover a on call during evenings for 7 days in the week. I was asked what is the maximum a individual can work legally in week? I don't know. I know that they are citing the working time directive for 65 hours, but employees to my knowledge are asked to opt out due to the work they do. I think management is right 65 hours in a week is already enough. Anyone have similar experience?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Gasman Not sure where the 65 hours comes from. The Working Time Directive has a figure of 48 hours a week, but even that needs to be calculated over a longer period. Last time I checked the limit for "safety critical" workers in the rail sector was 72 hours, again with a calculation to be made. As regards being "on call" different organisations apply varying approaches to counting how many hours are counted if someone gets to sleep and is NOT called out. Very topical in e.g. the care sector. There's not a lot of research on the impacts of extended working for people not doing "safety crtical" work. Some years ago I found some evidence that accident rates go up if people are regularly working more than 12 hours a day, but the negative impacts of shift working are not only dependent on the number of hours worked per shift. Many, many years ago researchers found that a significant proportion of the workforce can't cope with the European reverse cycling shift pattern - so instead of say 6am-2pm, then rest period e.g. weekend, 2pm-10pm, then rest period, 10pm-6am then rest period, the shifts would go in backwards direction.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Basically you can opt out of the 48 hour average over a 17 week reference period...so you can do any hours...in wrutten agreement from your employer...so long as they keep the relevant time records...however you can place restrictions on safety critical or high risk activities as you define them...you can also at anytime opt back into the 48 hour average week...by giving your employer notice in writting 7 days prior... The time those guys can work means that they must have at least 11 hours rest away from work each day...which is probably where the 65 hours comes from (13 x 5) ....and a minimum of 24 hours in any week.....so on that basis your maximum would be ~78 hours per week?
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 1 user thanked stevedm for this useful post.
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