Posted: 4/8/2002 2:40:16 AM EDT
| Is there any shiftworkers amongst us? I'm currently working a rotating 8 hour swingshift for a oil refinery. We are trying to find a better way. Is is 12 hour shifts? I need all the information and opinions I can get. Thanks in advanced. |
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errol- I'm starting tonight building scaffolding at a refinery here in Bellingham. We normally work 10 hr shifts. I was told a study was done and more work is accomplished in 10 hr shifts than 8 hr shifts. Our work is bid at 4/10s. So all day friday is OT.All day saturday is OT. Seems we always work 50 to 60 hrs a week during the turnarounds. Sometimes more depending on the refinery. Don't know if this helps you but it sure helps me. I'll be makin some money and thats what I'm talking.[:)] |
| Thanks rainman. But it has to be a 24/7 operation. Refinerys never shut down. 4-10's is the best schedule that a person could want. Our shift goes like this: 7 to 3, 3 to 11 and 11 to 7. 7 afternoons then 4 days off, 7 midnights then 2 days off, 6 days then 2 days off. And that is all straight time. Makes for a long week. |
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I never understood why they rotate shifts like that other than to piss people off. Why can't you just work a day shift, a swing shift or a night shift? Whats the object of jerking you around? I understand everybody needs a couple days off now and then. What about part time workers? |
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Its a long and funny story. But the oldtimers say "its been that way for 40 years". I'm a proud union worker but the old school of thought has to be looked at. The trend seems to be a 12 hour shift. Alot of us at the plant want to know which is the best. At the Refinery I work at, we work the Dupont schedule, 12 hour shifts. 4 on 7A-7P Mon-Thurs 7 OFF 4 on 7P-7A Fri-Mon 3 OFF 3 on 7A-7P Fri-Sun 1 OFF 3 on 7P-7A Tues-Thurs 3 OFF Start over. The oldtimers at our plant who didn't like the 12 hour shift, retired. If management tried to put us back on 8 hour shift, we would strike. GIB [sniper] |
| Brat, this is the kind of info I need. How long ago did you go to 12's. How did you go about it. Its is only because of the oldtimers that we can't get change. The real sad part is that it won't even effect them because they are in the maintenance division. We have 3 refineries in a 15 mile radius. Both of them work 12's, we don't. Doesn't makes sense does it! |
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We went to the 12 hour shift in '90. It took complete ratification by the membership (PACE 4-1, formerly OCAW 4-449) before it took effect. We needed Mechanical's buy in, in order for it to pass. In '90 mechanical out numbered operators, now it's the other way around. Mechanical is not effected by this shift, they still work 8s. GIB [sniper] |
| We are PACE members also. It is just a local issue. Although the pay week ends on Monday morning. We work 7 shifts of 8 hours twice a month. That is 56 hours of straight pay. It just isn't right. I'm trying to find any factual info to bring to the union floor for discussion. We want this only in Operations also, so it won't effect maintenance. They would stay on 8's. |
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Quoted: Its a long and funny story. But the oldtimers say "its been that way for 40 years". I'm a proud union worker but the old school of thought has to be looked at. The trend seems to be a 12 hour shift. Alot of us at the plant want to know which is the best. At the Refinery I work at, we work the Dupont schedule, 12 hour shifts. 4 on 7A-7P Mon-Thurs 7 OFF 4 on 7P-7A Fri-Mon 3 OFF 3 on 7A-7P Fri-Sun 1 OFF 3 on 7P-7A Tues-Thurs 3 OFF Start over. The oldtimers at our plant who didn't like the 12 hour shift, retired. If management tried to put us back on 8 hour shift, we would strike. GIB [sniper] Now that sounds familiar![:D] I work at a government installation and we work the same shift. Of course that could be due to the fact that Dupont was the primary contractor when we switched to the 12hr shift. The 12hr shift works out to a substantial increase in pay, but the older I get the more I wonder if working those midnights are worth it. |
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I also work 12 hr shifts at an Oil refinery we use a modified Dupont schedule its: 4 Days ON 3 Days OFF 7 Nights ON 4 Days OFF 3 days ON 7 Days OFF :) I Love this schedule we switched to it about a yr ago. You should try and get a hold of circadian tech. that develop work schedules for shiftworkers and study there effect on shiftworkers lives outside of work. Clint |
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Some folks say I have a messed up schedule but I actually like it. I work 10 days and then get 4 days off. That means every other weekend is a 4 day. When coming back from a 4 day my schedule breaks down like this... Wed - Sat 1:00 PM - 9:30 PM Sun 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM Mon - Fri 6:00 AM - 2:30 PM Sat - Tues Off |
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I love my schedule, I work 5PM to 3AM (10 hrs) 4 Days on (starts on a Monday) 4 Days off 1 training (1/2 day) 5 days on 3 days off 1 training (1/2 day) 5 days on 5 days off repeat the cycle so it works out that I get five days off in a row every month, and work two weekends a month. 10 hour shifts are worth it. |
| Our 12 hour night shifts are two on, two off, three on(weekend), then next week is two off, two on, three off(weekend). To cover the one week that is short, 36 hours, we start the new week on Sat. night at 0300. So 4 hours goes to the new week and 8 hours go to the previous week and we end up with 4 hours overtime for that week. |
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Quoted: Are there safety and/or productivity problems that result from fatigue at the end of a 12 hour shift? I don't think so. I find that right after lunch seems to be were most people at are plant start feeling a little tired but by 2 most have a second wind and are ready for the rest of the day. I find that going to 8hrs days for training will flat drive me crazy. The day is way to short and I feel like I have less time with the family and 2 days off just don't cut it. For shift work info you really should take a look at [url]http://www.circadian.com/[/url] Clint |
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Quoted: Its a long and funny story. But the oldtimers say "its been that way for 40 years". I'm a proud union worker but the old school of thought has to be looked at. The trend seems to be a 12 hour shift. Alot of us at the plant want to know which is the best. At the Refinery I work at, we work the Dupont schedule, 12 hour shifts. 4 on 7A-7P Mon-Thurs 7 OFF 4 on 7P-7A Fri-Mon 3 OFF 3 on 7A-7P Fri-Sun 1 OFF 3 on 7P-7A Tues-Thurs 3 OFF Start over. The oldtimers at our plant who didn't like the 12 hour shift, retired. If management tried to put us back on 8 hour shift, we would strike. GIB [sniper] Same schedule here. I didn't think I was going to like it at first, but now I love it. At my previous job, we worked 4-on/4-off(2 days, then 2 nights). But IMHO, the DuPont schedule rocks. You get 7 days off in a row every month!!! [:D] |
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12 hour shifts are the best. Heres how it works SMTWTFS SMTWTFS SMTWTFS SMTWTFS SMTWTFS X222XXX 1111XXX XXXX222 2XXX111 XXEEEEX X=DAY OFF 2=7AM TO 7PM (12Hours) 1=7PM TO 7AM (12Hours) E=7AM TO 3PM (8 Hours) Total of 200 hours worked in 5 weeks. 48 hour weeks, The last 8 hours is paid at the overtime rate. 7PM To 7AM is paid at the midnight premium rate. All Sundays worked are paid at the overtime rate. Vacations are taken on the "E" week. Work for a utility company, Been working this schedule for over 10 years, Everyone loves it. When we started it we had a lot of complaints, A month passed & all complaints disappeared. We worked 4 different 8 Hour shift type schedules, They all Sucked, Always tired & burned out. If you have to work around the clock 12 Hour schedules are the only way to get quality time off! I edited to try to line up the days with the schedule. |