Shift work and night work - Unite the Union

1 Shift work and night work Unite guide to Shift work and night work a health and safety issue for Unite membersRevised October 2013 Published by Unite the unionLen McCluskey, General Secretary Unite House128 Theobald s RoadHolbornLondon WC1X 8 TNTel: 020 7611 leaflet cannot cover everything and issues may differ depending on arange of factors including the sector you work in, your workplace, and your personal circumstances. If in doubt you should take advice from your Uniterepresentative or Regional guide book is downloadable in PDF format 4 Unite issues some sector examples 5 working shifts should not mean that your health should be compromised6 The health effects of working shifts7 Suggested guidelines for Shift design

2 9 Suggested guidelines for the work environment 9 What can Unite safety reps do? 10 Getting the information about risk factors 10 Practical issues for safety reps to consider with members when 10negotiating agreementsA brief introduction to relevant legislation 11 The working Time Regulations and Shift work

3 14 WTR and night work 15 Other important provisions of the working Time Regulations 17 Further information 194A world increasingly working around theclock raises an issue which is of increasingconcern for Unite the health and safetyimplications for members who work shiftsand at has shown that nearly 20% ofthe working population in Europe andNorth America is engaged in Shift work ,which is most common in healthcare, manufacturing/industrial, transport, communications, and the hospitality sectors.

4 The Labour Force Survey estimatedin 2005 that million people in Britain(14% of the workforce) work shifts mostof the time .Many thousands of Unite members workshifts, including nights, sometimes by choice,but often because they are obliged to undertheir contract, or for economic reasons. There are many types of Shift pattern andthere is no optimal system of Shift working :while some people adapt well to one typeof Shift pattern, others may find it guidance Managing Shift work states,for example, in relation to night work : Only a limited number of workers can successfully adapt to night work .

5 Try tofind alternatives to night work for thoseworkers who cannot adapt. Where possible,permanent night shifts should be avoided. Many other factors may be relevant to shiftworking: relevant legislation such as theWorking Time Regulations, which employ-ment sector you work in, family and socialsituations, and personal health guide is designed to highlight healthand safety issues arising from Shift workingand night working , give an overview of theofficial advice and relevant legislation andprovide advice to members when negotiat-ing agreements and other arrangements tohelp prevent injury and ill-health.

6 Note on enforcement of working time legislationResponsibility for ensuring compliance withthe working time legislation on night worklies with the body that also enforces compliance with health and safety requirements in your workplace. For mostworkers, this will be either HSE (for industrial and other "higher-risk" premises)or your Local Authority (for many so called"lower-risk" premises such as shops andoffices). In some areas of transport, specialist regulators will be responsible forworkplaces with relevant workers ORRfor railways, the CAA for aviation andVOSA for road bodies ensure compliance with thenight working hours limits for both adultand young workers, the right to be offereda health assessment, the requirements inrelation to special hazards in night work (including heavy physical or mental strain)

7 And the transfer of night workers to daywork under certain circumstances, compensatory or adequate rest, and supervision of night work by young workers under regulation 27A WorkingTime Regulations where you need information or advice on theseaspects of the working time legislation,contact the Pay and work Rights Helplinefirst (0800 917 2368 ). They will usually be able to helpyou, but can refer you to HSE or the relevant enforcing authority if need AviationShift working issues are exacerbated by theworking environment of Unite cabin andflight crew members.

8 They have to deal notonly with unsocial and often long hours butalso changes to their body clock caused bycrossing time zones. Unlike ground basedworkers, cabin and flight crew are not covered by the normal working time regulations and they may be asked to workup to 22-23 hours without a break. Thoughthis should be compensated with an extended rest period where they are workingon long haul flights, this does not apply toshort haul. Members are also increasinglyunder pressure to undertake aircraft cleaning and ground duties to cut costs andspeed up aircraft turnaround.

9 Due to thesepressures crew do not achieve a rest is campaigning for an extension ofturnaround times on health and safety grounds,and for an amendment to the Civil Aviation( working Time) Regulations 2004 to ensurecompulsory breaks for cabin crew are takenfree from any dury and away from working conditions and health andsafety of crane operators on constructionare often adversely affected by excessivehours and fatigue. Unite worked withinthe Strategic Forum for Construction toproduce joint guidance Tower Crane working Conditions Best Practice Guidance(2008).

10 This leaflet is of interest to everyone,in particular crane operators and membersworking on construction sites. It gives advice on timing of shifts (they should notstart before 7am and take into account theoperator s commute to work time), a requirement to provide a relief operatorwhere necessary and many other issues including a table showing recommendedhours of work and rest breaks for craneoperators and another showing the minimum number of operators required fora given number of tower cranes in continuous use on transport and logisticsAccording to the HSE publication, ManagingShiftwork (2006)