Night to day shift rotation

Kealyboy

Hi does anyone know or have any information on the maximum length of time a shift worker can be permitted to work consecutively on nights. My wife works a 39 hour week, 12 hour shifts and have a full time permanent contract in healthcare.

Is there a maximum length of time an organisation can leave you on nights before having to rotate you back onto day shifts.

Thanks.

Stheno

Kealyboy wrote: »

Hi does anyone know or have any information on the maximum length of time a shift worker can be permitted to work consecutively on nights. My wife works a 39 hour week, 12 hour shifts and have a full time permanent contract in healthcare.

Is there a maximum length of time an organisation can leave you on nights before having to rotate you back onto day shifts.

Thanks

None that I am aware of, I previously had a role where the contract was permanent nightshift.

Dr_Bill

I don't think there is anything specific. You would need to check the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

See:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/hours_of_work/rest_periods_and_breaks.html#l1f4da

I would also recommend a check of the Health & Safety Authority website to see if there is any relevant documentation http://www.hsa.ie/

In the UK the Health & Safety Executive have published some guidelines which make for an interesting read: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg256.pdf

EDIT:

Also found this:
The EU’s Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC) - http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=706&langId=en&intPageId=205

Summarised:

The EU’s Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC) requires EU countries to guarantee the following rights for all workers:

• a limit to weekly working hours, which must not exceed 48 hours on average, including any overtime
• a minimum daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours in every 24
• a rest break during working hours if the worker is on duty for longer than 6 hours
• a minimum weekly rest period of 24 uninterrupted hours for each 7-day period, in addition to the 11 hours' daily rest
• paid annual leave of at least 4 weeks per year
• extra protection for night work, e.g.
• average working hours must not exceed 8 hours per 24-hour period,
• night workers must not perform heavy or dangerous work for longer than 8 hours in any 24-hour period,
• night workers have the right to free health assessments and, under certain circumstances, to transfer to day work.

Hope this helps.

_Brian

Kealyboy wrote: »

Hi does anyone know or have any information on the maximum length of time a shift worker can be permitted to work consecutively on nights. My wife works a 39 hour week, 12 hour shifts and have a full time permanent contract in healthcare.

Is there a maximum length of time an organisation can leave you on nights before having to rotate you back onto day shifts.

Thanks

Nope.
I know folk working permanent nights for 20+ years.