Working Hours
Work Patterns & Organisation

When scheduling work of others and where practical, minimise risk of accidents due to fatigue by ensuring that the nature and periods of work are reasonable. What is reasonable is set out in Scheduling Guidelines. Accident research in other industries shows that accident rates rise slightly at the beginning of a shift, then fall, and stabilise. Thirteen hours into a shift the accident rate rises. After sixteen hours it rises dramatically. Research also shows that the early hours of the morning e.g. between 0200 and 0500 present the highest risk for fatigue related accidents.

 

 

The Scheduling Guidelines are set out on the HR Online site as part of an agreed statement with the unions. The guidelines explain that some work patterns require justification (i.e. that there is a demonstrated need for continuity of service or production activity) and approval from a member of management senior to, and not directly associated with, those preparing the schedule. The work patterns which need approval are those which feature:

 

 

Human performance tends to deteriorate when people have been at work for more than 12 hours. Less than 12 hours the evidence is less clear. However long you work the extent to which fatigue occurs depends on aspects such as the adequacy of rest breaks, the nature of the work and the working environment.

 

 

Everyone needs breaks in their working day, particularly if a high degree of concentration is required. If the day is longer than usual, consider giving more frequent breaks. Breaks are always much more effective if taken before fatigue sets in so plan them, rather than waiting until people are no longer able to function properly. Once fatigue has set in, a break is likely to work for about fifteen minutes only before the person becomes sleepy again, so preventative action is essential.

 

Scheduling needs to consider not  only the  overall length of the working day and the working week, but also the frequency additional hours are worked and the intervals between the end of the working day and the start of the next.

 

It is essential that there is an adequate interval between the end of one working day and the start of the following working day. This interval should be long enough to allow adequate time for sleep, meals, travel to and from home and, where appropriate, exercise. Time needed to travel from base back home should be considered as part of the working day when considering the effect of fatigue although it is not considered as being "at work".

 

It is important to avoid frequent changes from day to night working.

 

 

Young Workers are not required to work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.  Those under 18 are entitled to 12 uninterrupted hours in each 24-hour period in which they work.  Only in exceptional circumstances may this be reduced. Where this occurs, they must receive compensatory rest within 3 weeks. NB there is current consultation to extend such time requirements to adults 2006.  Young workers are entitled to two days off each week. This cannot be averaged over a two-week period, and should normally be two consecutive days.