As I write this, I'm preparing to go back home from office. As other "normal" people out there is only starting their day, my day is ending. For today at least, it's the end of a very long week - as this has been the 5 days of working midnight shift. Or as we call it here the 1st shift, but better known for other people as the graveyard shift.
This shift is one of the things I hate about working shifts (yes, there are some benefits - but let's talk about the negative first, I need to let out some pent-up aggression/frustration for a bit). During what is supposed to be the time when human beings sleep, I work and during the time when people work, I sleep. And despite telling my friends that trying to get some rest and sleep during the day is not the same as sleeping at night, majority of them do not understand.
During the 1st shift, personally I think we operate at about 50% of our normal capacity. At least I do. I just can't think straight most of the time. Most of what I do during this shift are automatic, meaning I operate at a subconscious (did I spell that right?) level, semi-conscious would be more exact...hahaha. Most of the things that we do are repeated, albeit on different days, times, different vessels, situations. All of this automatic things that I do comes from years of experience and training, and mostly because it's already ingrained in the back of my mind, hence the sub/semi conscious level of operating.
The usual challenge that all shift workers have to face during this is sleepiness. I'm glad actually that I work basically in the office - with a little bit of out-field work throw in here and there; because the most challenging job a person face during this time is operating an equipment. And yes, I'm working right smack in the middle of it, which is quite dangerous. And no, I don't tell either my parents or my wife about the dangers of working in a port. As far as my mum is concerned, I work safely in an office faraway from all those big equipments. I'll post some pictures later to give you an idea of where I work, if I can find where I put those pix...hahaha.
And no, we can't sleep during the shift. If we do, we would be given show-cause letter as it amounts to sleeping on duty. Those times you guys take a nap during lunch time? We don't have that, we have to stay awake no matter what. It's an even bigger challenge for the managers like myself, as I can't be caught sleeping - how am I going to manage the guys and show a good example, if I can't maintain my own discipline?
However, there are times when some guys do fall asleep, they just can't keep their eyes open. We have people falling asleep standing or sitting, even while doing work or talking to each other. So there are several poses that I found quite funny while managing my guys. One of it is dozing off in front of the computer while doing your work - one hand is on the keyboard, the other is on the mouse. From the back it looks like you're working, but in reality you're out! And you don't even realize you've dozed off until someone pokes you...hahaha...
I'm just rambling on at the end there, might as well stop here. Okay, until next time...Adios!
This shift is one of the things I hate about working shifts (yes, there are some benefits - but let's talk about the negative first, I need to let out some pent-up aggression/frustration for a bit). During what is supposed to be the time when human beings sleep, I work and during the time when people work, I sleep. And despite telling my friends that trying to get some rest and sleep during the day is not the same as sleeping at night, majority of them do not understand.
During the 1st shift, personally I think we operate at about 50% of our normal capacity. At least I do. I just can't think straight most of the time. Most of what I do during this shift are automatic, meaning I operate at a subconscious (did I spell that right?) level, semi-conscious would be more exact...hahaha. Most of the things that we do are repeated, albeit on different days, times, different vessels, situations. All of this automatic things that I do comes from years of experience and training, and mostly because it's already ingrained in the back of my mind, hence the sub/semi conscious level of operating.
The usual challenge that all shift workers have to face during this is sleepiness. I'm glad actually that I work basically in the office - with a little bit of out-field work throw in here and there; because the most challenging job a person face during this time is operating an equipment. And yes, I'm working right smack in the middle of it, which is quite dangerous. And no, I don't tell either my parents or my wife about the dangers of working in a port. As far as my mum is concerned, I work safely in an office faraway from all those big equipments. I'll post some pictures later to give you an idea of where I work, if I can find where I put those pix...hahaha.
And no, we can't sleep during the shift. If we do, we would be given show-cause letter as it amounts to sleeping on duty. Those times you guys take a nap during lunch time? We don't have that, we have to stay awake no matter what. It's an even bigger challenge for the managers like myself, as I can't be caught sleeping - how am I going to manage the guys and show a good example, if I can't maintain my own discipline?
However, there are times when some guys do fall asleep, they just can't keep their eyes open. We have people falling asleep standing or sitting, even while doing work or talking to each other. So there are several poses that I found quite funny while managing my guys. One of it is dozing off in front of the computer while doing your work - one hand is on the keyboard, the other is on the mouse. From the back it looks like you're working, but in reality you're out! And you don't even realize you've dozed off until someone pokes you...hahaha...
I'm just rambling on at the end there, might as well stop here. Okay, until next time...Adios!
No comments:
Post a Comment