administrators have looked at a 8 hour shift and a 40 hour work week similar to police. This option usually is not viabale due to the fact it requires a 40% increase in a current staff size within a department that already employs a 24 hour on duty shift scheduel.
(Davis, 2000) points out that a 12/12 split shift can show a benefit of overtime savings as compared to a 24 hours shift because less hours need to be paid if a employee calls off, but it is further pointed out that a 10/14 hour shift would be more benifical over a 12/12 shift due to less fatigue that employyes may incure. Some EMS departments, such as the City of Cleveland EMS, have experimented with a 12-hour shift schedule to address issues of stress. (Frazier, 1999) It is interesting to note, that a study conducted with their department to determine if a reduction in stress resulted from a scheduling change to a 12-hour shift, did not show declining levels of stress (Cydulka, 1994). …show more content…
The 24 hour shift is predicated on the ability for firefighters to rest or sleep while on duty but, in exchange, the work week is lengthened to as much as 56 hours of "straight pay" before overtime results. A 12 hour shift results in no rest time but the question that occurs is "what do you do with the added hours?" The 12 hour will allow you to adjust staffing to meet demand; is this allowed within the framework of your contract? Departments that have minimum manning and minimum staffing may see no savings because of the inability to adjust the numbers of personnel on duty. A 24 hour shift utilizes (normally) three squads or platoons while a 12 hour requires four. (Wieczorek, Paid Fire Service Shift Analysis,
(Davis, 2000) points out that a 12/12 split shift can show a benefit of overtime savings as compared to a 24 hours shift because less hours need to be paid if a employee calls off, but it is further pointed out that a 10/14 hour shift would be more benifical over a 12/12 shift due to less fatigue that employyes may incure. Some EMS departments, such as the City of Cleveland EMS, have experimented with a 12-hour shift schedule to address issues of stress. (Frazier, 1999) It is interesting to note, that a study conducted with their department to determine if a reduction in stress resulted from a scheduling change to a 12-hour shift, did not show declining levels of stress (Cydulka, 1994). …show more content…
The 24 hour shift is predicated on the ability for firefighters to rest or sleep while on duty but, in exchange, the work week is lengthened to as much as 56 hours of "straight pay" before overtime results. A 12 hour shift results in no rest time but the question that occurs is "what do you do with the added hours?" The 12 hour will allow you to adjust staffing to meet demand; is this allowed within the framework of your contract? Departments that have minimum manning and minimum staffing may see no savings because of the inability to adjust the numbers of personnel on duty. A 24 hour shift utilizes (normally) three squads or platoons while a 12 hour requires four. (Wieczorek, Paid Fire Service Shift Analysis,