Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 We do not have formal meal breaks or VDT related breaks. (The City didn't think we needed it even though we stare at a green CRT for 12 hours.) However, with 8 dispatchers on the platform we're rarely so busy that we can't get up for 5 minutes, or procure food and/or cook our own somewhere in the 12 hour tour. We eat when we can, where ever we happen to be sitting. Raffa Supv. Dispatcher, FDNY Borough of Brooklyn Fire Capital of the World www.FDNewYork.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Breaks, hmmmmm I remember the days when we didn't get them, way back when...... but then we woke up!!!!!!!! Now we are given 2 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute break or 4 15 minute breaks, whichever we want. I work swing shift (4-10 hour days) so we usually work in an extra 15 minute break each day. We usually start one hour after we start our day and the last break ends within the hour before we go home. On our day shifts we work with 5 dispatchers and evening and midnight shifts each have 6. There are between 5-7 call takers on each shift as well as 2 supervisors who take breaks whenever they want. We can eat at our consoles/desks and like most departments have to have " spillproof " cups. We have organized dinners about once a month. We set a theme, salad night, roast chicken and stuffed baked potatoes, pot luck, etc., and pass a menu around. During the hurricanes last summer we made pots of chili in the evening and cooked breakfast for everyone in the morning. We would be in dire straits if we couldn't eat at the consoles during times like that. Our management usually cooks a dinner for us once a year, it used to be during Telecommunicators Week but since we now have a county wide picnic they usually do it later in the year. Now if we could only get the coffee pot positioned next to the radio consoles!!!!!! Dora Stremble Orlando FL PD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Jim Question? If your not allowed anyhting at the console, do they allow water to drink, coffee or pop? I just wondering because I get bad case of dry mouth when I am talking non stop for 8 hours I cant image any one not getting dry mouth while non stop talking is going? LOL Tom East Central Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 We are allowed only water in our official spill proof bottle that they provide us that is SO cheaply made that after a few uses it dribbles all over the place! (Chicago 9-1-1) -----Original Message----- Jim Question? If your not allowed anyhting at the console, do they allow water to drink, coffee or pop? I just wondering because I get bad case of dry mouth when I am talking non stop for 8 hours I cant image any one not getting dry mouth while non stop talking is going? LOL Tom East Central Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 We are allowed to eat in place. Most of the dispatchers do that, and we can get up whenever we feel the urge depending on business. Comm officers/call takers are more structured in their break system. Drinks are allowed in spill proof containers. It's in the rule book. In black and white. With capital letters at the beginning of each sentence. In a book with all the other rules about safety around electronic equipment. But when the boss wanders around with an open container in the operations room.................................:-( Bob ________________________________ From: Jim Eggeman Sent: Thu 3/31/2005 4:41 PM To: 911console Subject: Re: 911:: (Now) Breaks We can have drinks as long as they are in a spill proof cup. It is just food they don't let us have. Jim Columbus PD Columbus OH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Our folks work 12 hour shifts and get three 15 minute breaks and one hour paid lunch. We allow drinks at the console, and food such as candy, but nothing that will cause crumbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 You could probably live for 2 or 3 days out of our keyboards!!! ________________________________ From: barryfurey@... Sent: Thu 3/31/2005 6:29 PM To: 911console Subject: Re: 911:: (Now) Breaks Our folks work 12 hour shifts and get three 15 minute breaks and one hour paid lunch. We allow drinks at the console, and food such as candy, but nothing that will cause crumbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 You know...did you ever think you would see the day that working a twelve hr shift was normal, or that eating on the fly...standing...gobbling...gulping..etc...IF you can eat..is the norm? We have NO set breaks..no set meals...etc. Catch as catch can. tis the way it is here. Cin in Ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 Ready, (JUS) wrote: >You can't leave food laying around because if you turn your back someone will eat it....! I've brought my lunch in and put it in the fridge at the beginning of my shift,.turn my back for a sec. then walk into the dispatch room to find someone already munching on it. (true story) > > > > > It got so bad where I am, we bought our own fridge. And they still stole food from us, and laughed about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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