Few H&S queries

Lexxi

Hi, I was just looking for advice on some health and safety issues I think I may have.

Is there any legislation on working on an uneven floor? A bit like if you were stood on little stones but can feel it through footwear
Am I entitled to see/have a copy of employers risk assessment?
Should my contract list my job description/duties?
Does an employer have to provide manual handling training prior to any manual handling? - job is focused around manual handling.

I am having a root round the internet but thought one of the lovely people here may be able to help me.

Thanks

T800

if you incorrectly lifted a box and damaged your back, they could be easily liable for this and be required to pay you compensation. So yes, they should provide training.

Your contract doesnt list your job description/duties, this is in your "terms and conditions of employment" which should be provided no later than 2 months, in writing, after commencing employment.

dmg24

Yes, you are entitled to a risk assessment.

As well as the employer having obligations with regard to H&S in the workplace, you also have a responsibility not to expose yourself to unnecessary risk. Therefore it is unlikely that you would get much of an award if you sued your employer for something that you have not tried to avoid/ minimise the risk.

Googlewhacker

T800 wrote: »

if you incorrectly lifted a box and damaged your back, they could be easily liable for this and be required to pay you compensation. So yes, they should provide training.

Your contract doesnt list your job description/duties, this is in your "terms and conditions of employment" which should be provided no later than 2 months, in writing, after commencing employment.

They should provide training, there is no requirement to AFAIK but they would be stupid not to because as T800 states they would be mainly liable.

You should get a broad description of your job role but obviously not every specific.

geri1965_2

If your job involves manual handling then employers are obliged to provide training.

SarEl

Lexxi wrote: »

Hi, I was just looking for advice on some health and safety issues I think I may have.

Is there any legislation on working on an uneven floor? A bit like if you were stood on little stones but can feel it through footwear
Am I entitled to see/have a copy of employers risk assessment?
Should my contract list my job description/duties?
Does an employer have to provide manual handling training prior to any manual handling? - job is focused around manual handling.

I am having a root round the internet but thought one of the lovely people here may be able to help me.

Thanks

This is too general to answer. What do you mean by an uneven floor - because it sounds a bit like it may be a safety surface rather than an uneven floor. But there is no legislation on floors - there is legislation on safety and negligence and lots of other things.....

If the employer has more than 5 employees the risk assessment should be in writing, but I do not believe there is an enshrined right to see it/have a copy - although I also cannot see any reason why you should not be able to see it.

Your contract (which isn't a contract - it's a written statement of the main particulars of your contract - but that is another story) does not need to include your job description or duties - and it is specifically recommended to employers that it should not.

You do have to have manual handling training if that is your work - but whether there are specific criteria about what manual handling entails, which mean that some workers must have it and others do not need it, I cannot say. Sorry, but maybe someone else can help on that one - it's not something I have ever dealt with.

Lexxi

Thank you for your replies.
I have a statment of particulars, this has a job title but no description, would I need a job description? One section of the handbook has a term of general housekeeping, would that be open to their interpretation? In previos job descriptions they end with 'any other ad hoc duties as required' which obviously covers them if they want me to do any extra duties but I have no job description.

geri1965_2

Reg 12 (2) of the Workplace Health Safety & Welfare Regs 1992 states

Condition of floors and traffic routes
12.—(1) Every floor in a workplace and the surface of every traffic route in a workplace shall be of a construction such that the floor or surface of the traffic route is suitable for the purpose for which it is used.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the requirements in that paragraph shall include requirements that—
(a) the floor, or surface of the traffic route, shall have no hole or slope, or be uneven or slippery so as, in each case, to expose any person to a risk to his health or safety; and
(b) every such floor shall have effective means of drainage where necessary.

Lexxi

SarEl wrote: »

This is too general to answer. What do you mean by an uneven floor - because it sounds a bit like it may be a safety surface rather than an uneven floor. But there is no legislation on floors - there is legislation on safety and negligence and lots of other things......

Have you lot been on a day out together, nothing for ages then 4 replies at once, thank you :T

I think the floor is old and worn, I think it's concrete. it's uneven where I have to stand, it's not a safety surface. It's just like being stood on lots of stones, it's causing pain to my back but I wasn't able to find anything.

Also, should my position have a job description even if it's not on the particulars?

LittleVoice

Lexxi wrote: »

I have a statment of particulars, this has a job title but no description, would I need a job description?

One section of the handbook has a term of general housekeeping, would that be open to their interpretation? In previos job descriptions they end with 'any other ad hoc duties as required' which obviously covers them if they want me to do any extra duties but I have no job description.

Your written statement of particulars of employment includes a job title. What is that title? Is that title sufficient for someone to know what is involved? How was the job advertised? Was there just a job title or more about the job?

What sort of things are included under the "general housekeeping" heading in the handbook?

Zazen999

Did you get a job description when you applied for the job?