Anyone ever work a rotating 12hr shift?

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I work in a manufacturing plant, considering a position that works rotating 12 hr shifts 6:00-6:00 2on 2off 3on 3off. Anyone ever worked this? How hard is it on your body? Do you ever adjust to it?
Reply:Some people do adjust to it while others never do.  You have to try it to know.  I can do shift work as long as I am horizontal sawing logs by 3:am.   I, in fact, prefer evening shift but just cannot do graveyards more than two days in a row then I turn into a zombie not knowing night from day and walking around in a complete fog.
Reply:I know alot of people around here that worked that in plants and really liked it. If you did it right with your vac time you could be out for along time. When I was stripping coal in Pa we worked 6 to 6 day one week then you did the 6 to 6 night time, and that was real hard. I got to the point that I was crossing with a guy that hated it so I took the steady night ont he dozer. It wored out great for the two of us, even though I didnt like it. It was easier on my body as you state. When we were rotating I would, take some speed to stay awake and that didnt last long it was killing me. We didnt get drug tested so it didnt mater but no one would say it but Im guessing most of us were doing it. I did that for about 5 years on many differnt jobs for that company.
Reply:I currently work a rotating 12 hour shift. We work 7-7, 2 weeks days, then 2 weeks nights. Our schedule rotates in that we work every other weekend, so it is 2 on, 2 off, 3 on 2 off, 2 on, 3 off. My wife has a hard time keeping up with the schedule, but adapts ok to it. You will get into a routine that works for you as far as sleep. We also have the ability to switch days with others if need be. It's not a perfect schedule, but I have a decent paying job with good benefits. The bonus is how well the company takes care of us. If we have problems and are working over, they don't hesitate to order in some food for us. You will even find our Pres/CEO getting dirty right beside you when all hell breaks loose.
Reply:It has been my experience that if your at home family will support your rotating shifts, it can work.  If you ar going to have to live with noisey soroundings when you are trying to get some sleep or complaints about your never being at home when your partner wants you there; you might have problems.The work involved can make a difference, heavy lifting gets old quick after 8 hours; your body may be screaming for a rest.  Button pushing, forkfift driving, inspecting, etc is not so physically demanding and might be a lot easier to handle.Rotating shifts will require a lot of flexibility, but I had a job where I really enjoyed being able to have time off during the days when all the "normal" folk were working.  They had no idea that I would be working while they were checking their eyelids for light leaks, or I had just woken up from my morning nap and had 4 hours before I started my afternoon nap before starting the next shift.A large part of my social life was with my mates who worked the same shift.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:i found 3pm-11pm was good because i got up at my normal time and had most of the day to myself before going to work..but the 11pm-7am  never worked for me..that involved changing my sleep schedule and i couldnt/wouldnt  do it....
Reply:12hr shifts are just part of the game with some companies.....I'm used to working 12hr and 15hr nightshifts.So ANYTHING in the daytime....is a vacation to me...don't care HOW long the day is!Just be glad you aren't stuck at night.....Last edited by 1_black_z28; 02-25-2011 at 01:24 PM.Lincoln 125HD, yep I'm a big spender.
Reply:I do 3 on 3 off as a plant mechanic, it is nice, but 6pm to 6am sucks. The first night is the hardest after 3 off, and your first day off is usually burned sleeping. I will say the schedule gives me major flexibility to do my own thing though.Last edited by TozziWelding; 02-25-2011 at 02:37 PM.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I can work 3-11 but I cannot work graveyard....I turn into a zombie!I'd really like a 7-31981 Lincoln SA 200Miller Trailblazer 302gMiller 211 Mig Welder w/ AutosetI'm learning to stick metal together
Reply:I worked 4 on-4 off, 12 hour shifts (2 days, 2 nights, 4 off) for 4 years and found it wasn't bad.  Of course, at the time, I had no family and sleeping in the daytime came easily to me so the shifts were easy.  As some have said, your home/family situation will be a big factor.  Also, the type of work you're doing at night-  your body's circadian rhythms tell you that you should be sleeping at 2, 3, 4 in the morning.  So if the work you are doing is sitting idle, say watching a control panel- you'll have a devil of a time trying to stay awake. If it's physical labour, you won't be fighting off Mr. Sandman but your alertness and mental acuity will suffer.  You won't be doing your best work then and you will have to take extra care with safety.Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:I do not think it is very smart.To get a welder to work 12 hours. Must be hard on the eyes. People could start making mistakes or get hurt. Just does not sound like a good idea.It would save some gas getting to work.That night in between would be critical as far as getting home and going to sleep.It would be really hard on families.It might work for some people.Might have to have a separate room to sleep in like some pilots have.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:I've worked a 6 on 2 off,7 on 2 off,8 on and 4 off and this was all 2nd shift at a power plant here in ky unloading coal from railroad cars,hated the schedule but it paid good.I tried the 12 hour shift once and just couldn't stand it,12 hours is a long time trying to get production,very hard on the body.Last edited by dugndeep; 02-25-2011 at 06:54 PM.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:I work straight 11p-7a, it sucks but it's what my seniority allows. My other option would be to work on call all the time, which I'd rather work every day and know when I'm going to be working than have someone call at 930pm telling me to be at work at 11pm after I'd been awake all day. Midnights are hard on your body, you never really get a good night sleep when you sleep during the day. People that work midnights live shorter lives, too, I'm told. To be honest with you, I'd love to take a crack at a rotating schedule.  With the 12 hour shift you'll work slightly more hours per year, but you'll have 78 more days per year off in return, not factoring in holidays and vacation. Also, when it comes to using vacation days you'll get more millage out of your days if you're on a 2 on 2 off, 3 on 3 off schedule. Work your 3 on, take three off, use 2 days vacation and be off for 4 more days= 7days off for 2 vacation days.Powcon 400SM2-PD60 wire feedersMiller XR controlAlumapro push/pull gunSpeedglas 9100xBFH
Reply:as others said, it depends on the guy...If ya have a family/social life, then it's not going to work very well, if ya love your job and single, and like the ppl you work with, then it's great....after 40 years in the work force i think everyone ends up doing it at least once....I HATE IT.....just can't get used to it..........
Reply:Ive been doing it for 2 days now on a rail job and am feeling quite flat at the moment. Just about to leave for work now.When we have a rail occupation/rail shut, its a good oppertunity to get some work done close to the rail that we cant do on normal working days
Reply:Don't envy those who have to no matter what the reason... worked 12 on 12 off 7 days a week for two westpac tours in early 70's.  Did not think a lot about it as the decisions to do so were above my payscale.   Lived with it then griping about it but glad I have more control over my hours now.
Reply:12 hour days suck. Period. Never turn down work. period. Good luckIronworkers 24
Reply:I never worked 12 hour shifts but I spent 2 years working rotating 8 hr. shifts. We would go through all three shifts every month. I never got used to it. I hated day shift because the place was crawling with bosses from topside trying to tell everyone how to do their job. Evenings weren't too bad and then you went to grave yard. After 7 days of graveyards I was dead on my feet and wasted all the first day and usually the second of our long change just catching up on sleep. There was always work for the welders and I worked many a double shift and a couple of triples and then the company stopped the triples. They didn't like paying double time and a half.
Reply:I actually just came off of this shift as a plant operator. A button pusher mostly, but occasionally we had a pump go down and had to get things rolling again. I was working 7:00p-7:30a, 4on - 4 off, 3 on - 3 off. It took me a while to get used to working nights, but as long as you get into a pattern (in bed by 8:30 or so in my case) its not that bad. But as it was said, it probably more depends on the kind of work you will be doing. It is rough with the gf / wifey though. She works weekend - nights, and now im on week - days so its gonna be a challenge getting through this part of life. We shall see. Best of luck to you in whatever you do. Just stick with it as long as you can. You may get to the point where youre thinking "GDI! I cant do this anymore!," then, you go into work and realize that it actually suits you pretty well. It can happen  They say it takes 3 weeks or so to get fully acclimated to a work shift change (like this one), it took me a little bit longer. The first week is the hardest.
Reply:I worked 12 hours day 7 days a week for 2 years only to break for 10 days every 4 months.
Reply:I worked 3rd shift for a while and found that the key to it is to think positively.  I know it sounds silly, but if you force yourself to not dwell on the parts that suck and look for the good side it will work better.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:Just got off my first "day" on, beer it is at 7:30 AM 2 more nights then a real day of OT, fun, fun, fun.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I worked a 3rd shift weekend,  we worked 32 hours got paid for 42. I didn’t see anyone all night. I had so much free time I picked up a 2nd job at a quarry fixing stone crushers and equipment. This shift didn’t last long, but set me up for a lead position on first shift.Kudos to the people working 12-6/12-7If you fall from there, your fired before you hit the ground!Classic 1D 200SAE 30086 SA 200Hyperthem 45Jancy Mag Force O/A Victor-GossCable's remote2-12" Mathey Dearman bevelersLN 25Miller Auto Set 211Wendy's Pancake/Jackson PipelinerNew Holland LS 180Great story man....tell it again!
Reply:I am just an angry man after a year of nights 3 on 3 off, I liked it up until about a month ago. Whatever, it is what it is, $$ is $$, and I can still go out and do my thing.Last edited by TozziWelding; 03-01-2011 at 10:31 AM.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Originally Posted by HuckxcI worked a 3rd shift weekend,  we worked 32 hours got paid for 42. I didn’t see anyone all night. I had so much free time I picked up a 2nd job at a quarry fixing stone crushers and equipment. This shift didn’t last long, but set me up for a lead position on first shift.Kudos to the people working 12-6/12-7If you fall from there, your fired before you hit the ground!I once worked a 12 hr on 24 hr off noon-midnight for a few weeks in the military. Talk about rough, you were changing shifts every day. Worst shift I've ever worked! 3 on 3 off 2on 2 off was suggested but the man in charge was afraid we'd get into trouble if we had days off. And he didn't want to deal with it.
Reply:My normal shift is 2-11pm. Social life is non-existant, but I'm ok with that. Worked AOG, (airplane on ground) for a while where we were doing 12 on  12 off. My shift was 6pm to 6am. This could go on for a couple days to a couple months, depending on the severity of the repair. The money is nice, but I gotta keep reminding myself, that no matter how much I make, I can't buy back time. I strive for a work / life balance now. Haven't achieved it yet, since I haven't had a day off since New Years, but that's my goal.Chainz________O/AMiller 250XMiller SD 180Spoolmatic 30AThermal Dynamics Pak 50and a bunch of other crap......
Reply:I've done it, wouldn't do it again.  Then again, the fact that it was at the Houston Seaport during July/August didn't help...
Reply:I work in an aircraft C-check facility 6:30pm to 7am, 4 on 3 off, then 3 on 4 off.  I personally love the schedule because having a 4 day weekend every other week (or easy overtime) rocks, and there aren't very many suits walking around at 1am.  I don't know if I want to go back to a regular shift, or at least not in the near future.