NCJ Number
165548
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1995) Pages: 44-48
Date Published
1995
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Shiftwork is unavoidable in law enforcement and should be handled using innovative thinking and flexibility rather than the traditional approaches that tend to reinforce the problems created when tired, demoralized, and unhealthy police officers try to cope with an already difficult job.
Abstract
Many police officers were traditionally required to spend succeeding weeks on day, evening, and midnight shifts. These constantly changing hours reduced alertness, job satisfaction, and health and posed an increased risk of accidents during nonshift hours. Management and line employees tended to regard these problems as being necessary and unavoidable evils that ended with promotion, assignment to a steady tour, or seniority. However, modern, informed thinking about shiftwork has changed the perspective so that shiftwork is effective for both the employer and employee. One effective approach is to schedule shifts creatively to provide maximum time for rest and recuperation. Variations on the 12-hour schedule can accomplish this. A more complex schedule can provide for a traditional 8-hour work schedule 2 weeks of every 10. Westfall and McBride have been doing research at the Shiftwork Benchmarking Institute for several years. Westfall recommends a philosophy of FAST-Tracking, in which FAST stands for Fitness and health, Alertness, Sleep, and Time off. A final issue is the possibility of a statutory maximum on work hours without rest, as provided for professions such as truck drivers, commercial pilots, and even physicians in New York State. Charts