Just a quick missive on my latest misdemeanors. Peeps with more experience are welcomed to express their opinions.
My latest assignment is a mainly national door deposition of 10-12 hour days depending on destination (tramps). I’ve been pulled for WTD infractions 5 times in the last month. I’ll admit, it’s not my finest hour and looking at the data I can see why.
They tend to be in the afternoon after the first 4.5 and forgetting the 6 hour rule after the last break.
Now, for someone whose into his third year or driving you can tell me I should know better but I still consider myself a noob and the above situation occurs (for me) under two certain conditions.
I’m ■■■■■■■ tired and pull up early having either a 15, 30 or 45 before the day has started leaving the bulk of the day on duty and forgetting where I am with regard to WTD
A varied mix of hammers/driving, in a 15 plate daf with no OBC to work it all out- I’m no 3 pointed ■■■■■■■■ apologist but at least the actros I last drove did all the hard work.
I know I’m going to get some crap for this but, in an effort to make other noobs aware, go easy.
It is all too easy to lose track of working time. I’ve been caught out a number of times myself, and it is always due to working more than 6 hours later in the shift. It’s easy to keep an eye on driving hours as tacho info is displayed on the dashboard in the MAN I drive. Hopefully you have a tacho that at least displays the driving time…
Although the authorities aren’t really interested in WTD infringements, my work run a points system - and points do not make prizes . Each infringement, WTD or driving hours, gets you more points until you have to undergo training (or eventually get fired if you keep going). Fortunately the points disappear after a few weeks, so as long as you’re sensible it isn’t a problem.
I use an app called Break Assist (rstoc.co.uk/break-assist/) to remind me that a 6hr period is running out. If you don’t want to use an app, you could set a countdown timer on your phone.
Another approach is to take two x 1/2 hour breaks, one before you reach 6 hours, and the second before you hit 9 hours. But this isn’t always convenient, and you still have to be careful if you’re working a long shift.
Just write down when you finished your last break and set an alarm for 5-5.5 hours time. Job done.
All those saying the authorities aren’t interested is a bad attitude as if you have an accident and you haven’t had your break and have a history of “skipping” legally required breaks I expect they will throw the book at you…
kcrussell25:
Just write down when you finished your last break and set an alarm for 5-5.5 hours time. Job done.
All those saying the authorities aren’t interested is a bad attitude as if you have an accident and you haven’t had your break and have a history of “skipping” legally required breaks I expect they will throw the book at you…
I’m not advocating that you flaunt the regulations. I just find it absurd that we have regulations that are enforced by no official body, and the only people interested in it are my employers…
I’ve been doing this 3 years and if i dont get 1 WTD infringement per week I consider it slacking. Its usually after the first break, you work another 6 hours that can catch you out (does me).
Unless your company are making a big thing rather than just “sign this” then wouldn’t worry. Apparently I exceeded the number of points for WTD infringments a while back…still awaiting the “training”.
Beyond that, i’d just scribble the last break on a bit of paper then you’ll know but you’ll likely forget to write at least one down and be in the same situation.
. Each infringement, WTD or driving hours, gets you more points until you have to undergo training (or eventually get fired if you keep going). Fortunately the points disappear after a few weeks, so as long as you’re sensible it isn’t a problem.