Who Still Has Beds?

[JonesMrJones]

Avon has them. Some stations have individual rooms and others have dorms. 

[Carl]

There is currently a bit of work being undertaken to look at what our crews currently rest on. Its been 14 years since we got rid of the beds. The strangest things happen in the fire service. Not sure on what the chances of getting beds back will be. Watch this space 🤔

[OscarTango]

By "rest", are crews supposed to be in a waking state of consciousness? Or is it literally a case of crews are allowed to kip just on their own "platforms"? 

 

[Carl]

They rest on a reclining chair as per policy. I couldn't possibly comment on whether they bring in their own platforms.  

[TrainHardFightEasy]

Can’t see the point in taking beds away. Resting in a chair or in a bed what’s the difference apart from a terrible nights sleep in a chair. 

[Becile]

@TrainHardFightEasydon't bring logic into the equation. It’s politics on many occasions, and there’s no other organisation or outside body that would see the justification of someone on a working night shift having access to a bed as a requirement. I’m not saying I agree with that but it’s a harsh reality, and we’ve got beds!
 

[Becile]

Be vary wary of comparing different emergency services my friend, go work a night shift with NWAS and you see a difference in our workload and theirs.

There are many organisations That are nowhere near that % ..Tesco night work shift etc etc

We,ll have to disagree around the pay, we won’t solve that one. Even numerous national strikes didn’t do that. 

Any way, back to topic - beds.

[Carl]

27 minutes ago, Becile said:

Be vary wary of comparing different emergency services my friend

And fire services, never stayed in mine long enough when on station.

[OscarTango]

I dont think Becile is comparing us to Tesco's. Just that pound for pound, a night shift at Tescos means you WILL be up on your feet all night. Id say at my station I get an undisturbed night about 20 to 30 percent of the time, most night shifts I will have to go out at least once in the small hours. The beds are ropey and the dorm is a hovel but im grateful for it, I know id rather snatch a few hours of REM before rushing out than trudging around all night tripping over my own eyelids.

I think the shift allowance is a fair point. But given the long term effects of night shift work id personally rather have the opportunity to rest on nights than extra wedge.

[Noddy]

Based on my own experience I agree with Becile, comparing us with the Ambo crews and police for that matter isn’t something I’d shout about.

And I’d add that although we’re probably better skilled than a Tesco’s worker we are no more professional.  Those guys running around keeping us fed and watered during recent events deserve medals 

[Becile]

Carl, also raises  a valid point that even call ratios between various stations can be hugely different, so very difficult to get a one size fits all. Ive been on both extremes, they both have their virtues.

[Carl]

This is a problem that has been rumbling on for years. I remember when we got rid of the beds back in 2006, we brought up the issue of shift allowance as well as custom and practice. Nothing changed and the thing that really annoys me is that we have so many differences between FRS's. 

I spent some time at a border station and crossing into Lancs would see us turn up with FFs who still had sleep creases in their faces as they had turned out from their beds. 🤨

[Jet]

Years of driving down call volumes and incidents and then the same people complain when we have longer periods in between calls 🤦🏻‍♂️

Would they rather have us go back to the good old days of make ups and jobs every night or just accept there's no point in us staying up all night for no real reason? And at the same time impacting our physical and mental health?

[TrainHardFightEasy]

I’d rather have access to a bed & potentially a good nights sleep than a shift allowance where I have to stay up all night plodding around the station at 5am trying to stay awake. If extra money is your thing then we have plenty of time off to earn extra coin. 

[Carl]

Do your exams, that's what I did. Might as well study in work time and get paid for it

[TrainHardFightEasy]

Regarding being busy at night it’s easy to get used to both extremes. Being up at night going to working jobs makes the job rewarding & gets the adrenaline going. On the other side of the coin having a full nights rest allows for a better personal life & more productive days off. It’s good to experience both in my view & not get stuck on the same station for years on end. 

[TrainHardFightEasy]

I have been more tired from socialising too much than I ever have from working on my days off during the day. Your body quickly adapts to more work & less rest. Working anti social hours is what we all signed up to. 

[Messyshaw]

As a retiree and taxpayer, I have had a change of heart and think the beds should go

There is no reason you lazy gits can't do lectures, test equipment and do silent ladder drills at night (jets directly from the hydrant so you don't start the pump engine). You could test local hydrants on foot (in slippers) and do 7(2)ds at hospitals, residential care homes, supermarkets and other 24 hour establishments. 

I think it would be reassuring for the local community for them to see you outside their bedroom windows at 3am flushing their hydrant and popping CFS leaflets through their doors for their dog to enjoy 

 

[Becile]

@MessyshawI think we need to up your meds, so you are “comfortably numb” (I’m sure I could make a song out of that)

[TrainHardFightEasy]

Heathrow airport fire service doesn’t provide beds. I have a pal who works there & they “rest” in one of the aforementioned recliner chairs. 

[Messyshaw]

2 hours ago, Becile said:

@MessyshawI think we need to up your meds, so you are “comfortably numb” (I’m sure I could make a song out of that)

How odd, I was listening to that track this morning - the first time for years!  You must have read my mind... like this guy

[Br9mp81]

7 hours ago, TrainHardFightEasy said:

Heathrow airport fire service doesn’t provide beds. I have a pal who works there & they “rest” in one of the aforementioned recliner chairs. 

Never ever got to sleep during airfield open hours, as a manchester rate payer i think the bed replacement was a waste of money, they could have been excused as needed to provide accom for bad weather, major jobs etc.

[Carl]

After 15 years without beds, there is a working group looking at resting facilities. I am not saying for one minute they are coming back to GMFRS but a replacement is being looked at. Watch this space. 🤔

[Carl]

Imagine if beds came back in 17 years after they were removed. 🤷‍♂️

[Rory-495]

SubO and StnO came back to London so you never know!