The Washington, DC, fire department believes that it can save $36 million annually by cutting 24-hour shifts to 12 hours.
In the current system, firefighters works a 24-hour shift and then have three days off. The new cost-saving method would involve a five-day cycle. The cycle would include two consecutive days of 12-hour day shifts; two consecutive nights of 12-hour night shifts; and a day off.
By changing the system from 24-hour shifts, the fire chief expects to see fewer mistakes. The proposal is also expected to reduce the number of employees who work more than 30 miles from Washington, DC, as it will require more frequent trips into the city; currently, 41 percent of the staff lives more than 30 miles from DC.
The union is organizing to fight the proposal because the current system—with three-days of free time between shifts—allows firefighters to spend more time at home or work other jobs.
From 1965 to 1987, the department worked on 12-hour shifts with very high ratings. One city council member recently asked if 8-hour shifts may make even more sense.
The original coverage from The Washington Post is available. In addition, numerous studies have been conducted on 24-hour firefighter shifts, including ones in Minneapolis, Lancaster, PA, and Philadelphia.