The 24-48 shift pattern uses three teams (i.e. platoons) and three shifts to provide 24/7 coverage. It consists of a 3-day cycle where each team works one 24-hour shift followed by 2 consecutive days (48 hours) off duty. This shift pattern is very popular with fire departments in the United States and is also known as ABC shift pattern.
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Characteristics | |
| Plan ID | C3TF24-4 |
|---|---|
| Name | 24-48 Shift Schedule |
| Applicability | 24/7 operations |
| Teams Required | 3 |
| Shifts | A (24-hr), B (24-hr), C (24-hr) |
| Repeat Cycle | 3 days |
| Rotation | Fixed plan, no rotation |
| Average Hours per Week | 56 |
| Staffing Fluctuation | Balanced from shift to shift and day to day |
| Pluses |
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| Minuses |
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| Common Usage | Popular with fire departments and emergency medical services. |
| Notes | – The US Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) compensation cycles are 28 days over which firefighters normally works either 216 hours or 240 hours. Hours worked beyond a base of 212 hours in a 28-day period are considered overtime. To avoid overtime, agencies typically use a rotating day off (Kelly day off) every 21 days.
-This plan requires living quarters for the employees to work and sleep during each 24-hr shift. |