Unsafe duty systems


Delegates at the Fire Brigades’ Union annual conference in May made clear that they will continue to fight fire and rescue services’ growing use of unsafe duty systems. Conference heard how South Yorkshire FBU scored an important legal victory when it challenged the introduction of a 96-hour shift-duty system. 


An employment tribunal ruled that the four-day on/four-day off duty system — consisting of four consecutive 12-hour shifts followed by 12-hours on call either on or near the station — breached the Working Time Regulations and was unlawful. 


Assistant general secretary Andy Dark warned other employers that the FBU would challenge unsafe duty systems wherever they may occur. 


He said the tribunal decision was a “tremendous victory” in establishing that without a collective agreement such duty systems are unlawful. 


The union had started representations with the HSE concerning enforcement of the regulations, he reported.

https://www.fbu.org.uk/circular/2015hoc0182ad/day-crew-plus-duty-systems

https://www.fbu.org.uk/news/2016/05/12/legal-victory-union-after-service-tries-double-working-week