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Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for my friends in the fire service, and it’s about shift work.
Career firefighters are often assigned to 24- or 48-hour shifts, or some combination of day shifts and night shifts. Volunteer firefighters may have assigned times where they are expected to answer calls.
While these schedules provide a certain degree of flexibility, they can wreak havoc on personnel wellness. Shift work has been proven to affect sleep quality and contribute to an increased risk of health problems, including cancer. Frankly, it’s also hard on your home life.
But we all know shift schedules are here to stay. So what can we do to minimize the impact? Everyone plays a role.
Unions can advocate for limiting the number of days personnel can work consecutively before they are sent home to rest. Administrators can re-examine forced overtime policies, allowing personnel to choose their mandated overtime shifts. Supervisors can encourage or enforce additional rest breaks for meals and naps to improve recovery when their crew has had an active shift. Company officers can monitor their personnel and be aware of mitigating factors, such as whether someone has an infant at home and is therefore getting less sleep.
And there’s a lot you can do as an individual, too. When possible, limit the number of consecutive nights you work. Think of yourself like an athlete. Each shift is a big game. You want to take care of yourself in the same way: Hydrate, sleep, and rest before game time. These simple steps pay dividends when it comes to preserving mental and physical health throughout the shift — and throughout your career.
Shift work is a staple of life in the fire service. But by working together, we can limit the negative effects and ensure firefighters are always ready to answer the call – night or day.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
