Wholetime firefighters on the Isle of Wight are now on duty for 24 hours at a time in a bid to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.
The temporary measures see firefighters at Newport come on shift at 09:00 and remain on station until 09:00 the following day.
Normally, crews would complete a tour of duty consisting of 2x 12-hour day shifts and 2x 12-hour night shifts.
Blue Watch handed over to Green Watch at 09:00 this morning, with Red Watch and White Watch set to cover Thursday and Friday before Blues return on Saturday.
The idea behind the temporary shift change is to reduce the interaction of people passing through Newport Fire Station by reducing the frequency of turnover.
It’s understood that day crew shifts at Ryde and the Retained Duty System (RDS) remain unchanged.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has said:
“In line with the government drive around self-isolation and social distancing, as a fire service we are undertaking a number of changes to maintain a safe and healthy workforce while providing our essential frontline delivery.
Article continues below this advertisement “These include following guidance from Public Health England to ensure crews have the appropriate ‘personnel protective equipment’ and locking down fire stations for essential personnel only. As Green Watch, Newport, have eluded to, another action identified was by temporarily undertaking 24 hour shifts, we can maintain the same level of cover to the community but reduce our shift changeovers by 50 per cent.”
This could of been done ages ago why wait till now ?
It’s been running for a few days now, but as I understand it was the rep body (FBU) that initiated the change, but as it had to be ‘signed off’ at a national level & by Hampshires Fires Chief
Fire Officer it took time, well done to the unions & wholetime firefighters pushing for common sense change!
Keep up the good work. Thank you.
That takes me back over fifty years when I first joined the Fire Service as a full time firefighter We worked the 24 Hour 72 Hour Week Shift system so after fifty years it has taken a virus to make the Fire Service to progress to the 24 hour system
When the war is over, next time you see the Welliephant collecting with his bucket, show your appreciation by putting a bit extra in,