The 48-hour average week
Workers can't be made to work more than 48 hours a week on average, normally over 17 weeks. A guard can opt out in writing, and can cancel the opt-out with notice. Even with an opt-out, you still have a duty to protect their health and safety, and very long weeks increase fatigue on night shifts.
Rest between shifts
The normal entitlement is 11 hours' rest in every 24 hours, one day off a week (or two in a fortnight) and a 20-minute break when the working day is over 6 hours.
The 'special case' for security work
Security and surveillance work that needs a permanent presence to protect property or people is one of the special cases in the regulations. For these workers the daily rest, weekly rest and break rules can be varied, but they must get equivalent compensatory rest instead. It doesn't remove the 48-hour average or the night work limits, and it doesn't mean rest can be skipped.
Night workers
Night workers shouldn't work more than 8 hours in 24 on average, and must be offered a free health assessment before starting nights and regularly after.
Keep records
You need records showing you comply with the weekly limit and night work limits. A rota that checks rest and weekly hours on every booking, and records the reason when someone books over a limit, is the simplest way to keep them. Shiftaan Team checks both on every booking.
