Occupational health

Hardup_Hester

Hi all
I usually visit this forum because of my hubby who is partially sighted, butI'm after some information for myself.
I'm 57 later this month & work in a job that involves a lot of heavy lifting, carrying & other strenuous activities. I've been having a lot of problems with my joint, especially my arms & shoulders. I've asked at work for things to be altered, ie extra working space etc & been ignored. Eventually I managed to see an Occupational Health Assessor, she made recommendations for what should be done as a lot of what I do is a H & S nightmare. Everything was meant to be done by yesterday, all that has happened is an extra desk has been put in the room, I can't use it as filing cabinets & drawers have been left in the way.
So what I want to know is, do the Occ Health have any actual power to get things changed, or did I just waste my time.
I had the same when I went to our H & S rep, they agreed there were a lot of problems, but were unable to insist on change.
Where do I go from here, would it help if I went to the Doctors?
Sorry to witter on for so long & sorry if this is the wrong place, but TBH, when I arrived at work today & realised that nothing had changed I felt like crying.
Hester

somebody_else

I'm not sure of the answer to this, Hester. If your H&S rep doesn't appear to have any 'teeth' in this matter, perhaps it would be worth contacting the HSE and asking their advice.

This document seems to say that your employers have a duty to ensure that you aren't injured/harmed through having to lift weights that are too much for you http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/law.pdf and there is a contact number on there.

Might be worth a shot?

Horace

Hi Hester

Certainly go and see your GP. As for your Occy Health Dept and your H&S Rep one does wonder why they bother:mad: Occy Health should be reminded that they have a duty of care towards you and other employees and that you should have a safe working environment, you shouldnt have to climb over filing cabinets to be able to get to your desk. As you have damaged your joints from lifting, one does wonder whether or not your employer has actually given you any manual handling training or provided equipment to help you lift and transport things safely.

Your Health & Safety Rep needs a kick up the @rse to be honest with you, it is his/her job to ensure that the workplace is safe. Personally, I would be putting in a grievance as well as speaking to the HSE (although to be honest with you I doubt that they will say too much but it is always worth trying them).

Submit a grievance, get your doctor to sign you off and state why he is signing you off. This may sound extreme but the employer is basically saying that they won't do anything because you have put up with it for so long hence the need to make a formal complaint because it shows that you mean business.

Also speak to ACAS for their advice and to your union if you have one.

HTH

Hardup_Hester

Thanks for the replies & advice, I'll make a doctors appointment tomorrow & take it from there.