Things To Do During Shift?

[Lumie]

Evening all.

So I'll cut to the chase, my station in LFB is one of the quietest in the brigade. It isn't quite a Biggin Hill or Wennington, but we're lucky to top 2 shouts a day shift and most nights are spent in bed.

I'm approaching 8 months on station and I'm at a loss really. On days, we'll do the normal change of watch routines, breakfast, go out and about for a bit, throw a ladder up or a DaMOP drill, do a HFSV and then dinner. From 2pm onwards, with no shouts, I'm left twiddling my thumbs because the rest of the watch does their own thing, my guv does his paperwork and I'm left in the watch room watching the jobs on the computer.

I make sure my books up to date, I'm up to date on all my training and all that stuff. I usually go out to the truck, pick a random piece of equipment and then get it to work and read up about it. I stay on top of my knots and lines and policies. The gym is kind of out of the question because I'm in the gym 6 days a week when I'm not on days. I just went through my 9 month probation report with flying colours and said I'm doing exceptionally well.

I just don't know what else I can be doing. Is there anything brigade wise I can get involved in to take up some time?

I'm doing a lot of standbys because it gives me a chance to see the world and be busy (which I absolutely love and can't wait to do it more) but the guv has asked me to tone down the out duties as he needs to see me more in order to get my book done.

[Rory-495]

Mate I'm in exactly the same boat, I'd say the only other thing I can find to do is help in the mess if needs be.

The only thing I've started doing extra is pre writing "generic" evidence or things that will happen in future; e.g. if we are doing a school visit I'll write out everything I know we will do there and then and add the specific details afterwards before submitting it.

Other than that I find myself trying to find any job that may not even need doing to pass the time as I don't want to be seen to be the recruit who sits in front of the tv all afternoon (and I've met several!) Even if it's re organising the stationary despite it being reasonably tidy!

[Lumie]

Yeah I’m always asking if the MM wants me to peel some potatoes or clean the floor or something. 

Oh well... guess I’ll take a trip to the sky garden tomorrow and see if I can do anything up there😂

[HoldFast]

Just a suggestion and you’re probably more than happy on your watch but if you’re that bored and have that much time on your hands, being new into the job, why don’t you put a transfer in to a busier station? 

[Lumie]

@HoldFast tried that, got a stern talking to because I didn’t talk to the guvnor before putting them in, have to wait until I finish my book before I can put them back in - sounds fair enough to me.

Just between now and then I need something to do😂

[HoldFast]

It’s always best to run stuff like that past your guvnor first mate even if just as a courtesy, but a transfer definitely! We live and learn.

[Lumie]

We do indeed haha!

[Keith]

If its not something you already do, ask if you can help with booking in the HFSV's, school visits, etc or complete any routine paperwork or reports associated with them. If LFB is anything like us this usual takes longer to complete than the actual visits and is one of those necessary evils that everybody tries to avoid and leaves it to the boss.

[Lumie]

I do all of that for my book as is, but I haven’t done much with IMS yet. I might ask the guv if he can show me more of it and try reduce his workload a bit at the same time! Thanks pal!

[Dangly1]

It may come later when your book is almost done as that and the rest of the usual daily work routines take priority, but you could look into taking an IFE exam. This would stand you in good stead were you to go for promotion and would definitely fill a lot of your spare time!

[TrainHardFightEasy]

On nights definitely get some study in for your IFE exams. Make the most of quiet nights. 

[LFB92]

Do the knowledge 

[Messyshaw]

Jesus - How things have changed!!!!

With 8 months in, if I even admitted having 'nothing to do' to my Guvnor, he would have gone bloody ballistic!! He would have led me out to the appliance room by my ear,  before quizzing me on equipment, procedures, standard tests, BA, hook ladder dimensions - the station's ground, first aid, fire safety matters and even just knots & lines.

He would then take delight in listing my numerous wrong answers before pointing to the Station Library (a bookcase) asking me how I have the f**king nerve to say I had 'nothing to do' when I know so f**cking little - and when there's so many f**cking books I had not even opened let alone read!! OK, it was all a bit theatrical and the watch loved witnessing my humiliation and grovelling replies - but to be fair, he had a good point!

I would often make a thing of asking him for the keys the library - even if that meant going back to the office later if he wasn't there - and asking him directly and not the Sub O or LFF. I would then make sure he saw me with an armful of books as I returned the key, before disappearing upstairs to read my newspaper, a book or generally chill, knowing I had a couple of hours before he emerged from an avalanche of paperwork in the office. But mostly, I was exempted from watching the TV and playing table tennis as I was expected to study.

 With respect, filling in a colouring book doesn't make you competent, only knowledge does - and I really do think new members of the watch should be pressurised to participate in study & to answer Q&A at any time (such as en route to a job seconds after waking at 3am) - even if this means missing out on perks such as snooker, or even the gym. But of course, this would be seen as bullying and harassment now, rather than equipping someone with the skills to survive in a hostile and dangerous environment 

[Lumie]

Sorry to offend Messy.

Im just looking for anything more useful I can do with my time that benefits me and the brigade, rather than just re reading the same policies and going over my e-learning and book. 

I didn’t know if there was anything someone else was doing that I didn’t know about, considering a large amount of members of the forum are LFB new recruits.

[Messyshaw]

Good God - you haven't offended me @Lumie, quite the opposite as I hope my words are not seen as being over critical.

Part of why I still regularly visit here a decade after retirement (from the fire service, not the fire industry) is to keep up with changes and new ways of working

I accept that a lot of the militaristic ways when I joined were harsh and over the top, and I welcome a less strict approach by management overall. But sometimes- just occasionally, I wonder if the relationships between trainees and their WM is a bit to pally?

But I do recognise your frustration of being at a quiet station and advise you to move asap. I was in the same boat as you but moved to a busy station. It was a great move and one I never regretted . Good luck!!

[Noddy]

As others have said do you IFE exams.  When I joined I went to a quiet station so studied and passed my Lfm, Sub O and Station Officers exam all within 4 years.  After that I sat my IFE members exams so my advice... make the Most of the downtime and sign up mate 

[Jet]

With regard to IFE exams - being that you are LFB, am I right in thinking that it is still not a requirement to have IFE exams for promotion? I think that is why a lot of people on here are recommending IFE's, because they are needed to progress up the ranks in most FRS's. But this wasn't the case in London when I was there. So regarding IFE's, look up what is in it for you personally before embarking on a course because they are very involved...

[Carl]

I thought I would move this into here considering it certainly involves station activity and a lot of the responses may assist others who are in development phases of their career. 

I must admit, I am very much with @Messyshaw when it comes to years gone by. I remember my old Station Officer, who never wanted me to watch TV with the rest of the watch and said he wanted to see me with my head in the books until at least 10pm on a night shift. He used to challenge me often and ask me the dimensions of pieces of kit and if I got it wrong or wasn't sure, he used to make comment "that's why you need your head in your books". 'When you can answer all the questions, you can watch TV." 

I was also lucky, as 6 months after I started, another probationer came to the station and he was dreadful when it came to remembering stuff. Over the coming months I slowly slipped into the TV room as the new boy was getting enough attention for both of us and I tended to be forgotten about. Even when we were both put through our paces, my average performance looked good against his. 😂

As others have said, whilst you are at work, do what you can to cram it all in. After your 2 years is up, you can put a transfer in and use your knowledge when and where its needed

[Noddy]

11 hours ago, Jet said:

With regard to IFE exams - being that you are LFB, am I right in thinking that it is still not a requirement to have IFE exams for promotion? I think that is why a lot of people on here are recommending IFE's, because they are needed to progress up the ranks in most FRS's. But this wasn't the case in London when I was there. So regarding IFE's, look up what is in it for you personally before embarking on a course because they are very involved...

I didn’t need them at the time and WMFS still don’t stipulate them.  The motivation for me was wanting to better myself As a firefighter and make best use of the time I had.  

[Desserts]

On 01/11/2019 at 18:23, Lumie said:

So I'll cut to the chase, my station in LFB is one of the quietest in the brigade. It isn't quite a Biggin Hill or Wennington, but we're lucky to top 2 shouts a day shift and most nights are spent in bed.

So your station is quieter than my last 3 years at Wennington!

Don't be misled by how busy stations are. Working on a station with a good watch and Governor is very important.

Moving from Islington to Wennington thanks to Boris Johnsons closures was a change. People made many comments. I won't argue when you look at the difference in call numbers. But the so called busier station get different calls. At stations like Wennington we had more working jobs, large fires, house jobs and loads more RTAs. We did go out of the doors less often but tended to do more. Seriously think before you swap stations the grass isn't always greener!

[OscarTango]

I went to work last night having just read our Lord Admiral Steven de Dudenskis blog post here and it provided some much needed perspective. Only getting out of the dorm twice in small hours

I was quite pleased about😂. Imagine if every night shift was like this. Id be shagged. Let alone having kids to come home to!

First Night Duty
 

On 03/11/2019 at 10:13, Desserts said:

Don't be misled by how busy stations are. Working on a station with a good watch and Governor is very important.

Good point. Watch dynamics are a curious thing and if you have a good lot who you bond well with that is worth its weight in gold.

Theres so many nauseating firefighter memes on the internet (usually American) about your "Brothers in arms" and "smoke brothers" and such like. Those sorts of relationships with your colleagues aren't always a given though.

There are a lot of different personalities in the fire service and I know of people who have moved to chase calls but have had mixed feelings looking back and miss the old watch they were with.

Even at the quietest stations you WILL still get good jobs and you will absolutely grow in your role. I think there's a lot to be said for "seeing the world" though, especially in a place like London.

SIDE NOTE/QUESTION: How do out duties work in LFB? Are they simple detachments? That happened a lot in Surrey but only because we were so damn short we spent half our time starburst to other stations. Are detachments in London something you can volunteer for?

[Rory-495]

Oddities are direct (start of shift you are already at another station) or indirect on shift. Depends on your station, places like Paddington or Wembley get sent out a lot to fill gaps, or places with special appliances will often need a specialist appliance driver sent in so a FF will be sent out. It's a great way to see the brigade and meet your colleagues who you will inevitably meet on jobs 

[Lumie]

I like my watch don’t get me wrong, but after spending some time at Bethnal Green etc I’ve realised I need to get out as soon as that book is done. 

My lot groan when the bells go, at which time I’m half way down the stairs😂 I’ve met the energetic watches and trust me those are the stations I’m looking for. I was sitting around the mess table a couple nights ago on a standby and they were talking about their MONTHLY drink/night out together. I couldn’t believe it. I’ve been out once with my lot and that was in April. I don’t think we’re even doing anything for Christmas...

Ill look into IFE! Thanks for the suggestion.

[LFB92]

I’d be careful about dripping about your watch on a open forum Lumie.

Also, as the buck it’s your job to organise Christmas drinks.