Accident at work - not impressed!

SusieWinwood

I walked into a chair leg yesterday at work and after going to the walk in centre and having an xray I was told I had broken my little toe. :mad: It's like a pork sausage and my foot is swollen and black and blue.

We moved (not voluntarily) into a much smaller office but with still the same amount of furniture, cabinets, boxes, desks chairs etc in February of this year. We have asked several times for a risk assessment of the office but to no avail. The whole room is a hazard and most of the staff have said it is a H and S hazard waiting to happen. Well it has happened - to me!

I am ok to self certify for a week off but after that I need a fit note off the Doc.

I'm so mad as the employer is always harping on about h and s this h nd S that yet when it boils down to it they don't give a stuff!

I've looked it up and each person should have a minimum of 11 cubic metres as their work space with NO furniture etc included. We are lucky if we have 11 cubic metres between two of us.

Just needed a rant!

geri1965_2

SusieWinwood wrote: »

I
I've looked it up and each person should have a minimum of 11 cubic metres as their work space with NO furniture etc included. We are lucky if we have 11 cubic metres between two of us.

That's interesting, where did you read that? My office is very cramped because our lazy @rsed secretary can't be bothered to file away the closed files and they are in piles all over the place.

joeblack066

This is standard, as long as with all things H&S, it is 'reasonably practicable'. A greater worry is the lack of risk assessments. Also ifvthe injury requires 3 days or more off work it comes under RIDDOR.

Duncombe

You're having a week+ off work for a broken little toe?!

dickydonkin

joeblack066 wrote: »

This is standard, as long as with all things H&S, it is 'reasonably practicable'. A greater worry is the lack of risk assessments. Also ifvthe injury requires 3 days or more off work it comes under RIDDOR.

The 11 cubic metres is an Appoved Code of Practice (ACOP) based on the H&S welfare regs.

Although a risk assessment should be carried out, I suspect that if it had been and was done properly it would have evaluated that the room is too small and there may be a risk of impact with fixed or stationery objects.

A subsequent action plan to remedy the situation would be either to reduce the amount of furniture and fittings or move to a bigger room - therefore ask yourself why nobody has done a risk assessment after several requests.

This is standard, as long as with all things H&S, it is 'reasonably practicable'.

Not neccessarily.

A H&S cost benefit analysis does not always conclude that financial outlay, time and effort outweigh the benefits.

Foggster

Write to the H&S officer and state clearly what happened and suggest that the size of office may not be suitable for the number of people in it and it might be in need of a risk assessment. Dont quote this that and the other regulation, just see what they say.

If its any consolation, you should easily be back to work after a couple of days with a broken toe, I am a clumsy clot and have broken toes on both feet a number of times.

Googlewhacker

dpassmore wrote: »

The 11 cubic metres is an Appoved Code of Practice (ACOP) based on the H&S welfare regs.

Although a risk assessment should be carried out, I suspect that if it had been and was done properly it would have evaluated that the room is too small and there may be a risk of impact with fixed or stationery objects.

A subsequent action plan to remedy the situation would be either to reduce the amount of furniture and fittings or move to a bigger room - therefore ask yourself why nobody has done a risk assessment after several requests.



Not neccessarily.

A H&S cost benefit analysis does not always conclude that financial outlay, time and effort outweigh the benefits.

So let's summise that the company have moved to cut costs because they are struggling, presumably then if the space is inadequate and the suggestion is to move to a larger office but the cost of this would mean the company would need to cut costs in other ways (for example redundancies) then would this would make the current room acceptable (if all the furniture is required) under the current conditions?

I know that is an extreme example but I would like to know.

SusieWinwood

Duncombe wrote: »

You're having a week+ off work for a broken little toe?!

I am yes. Would you suggest I hop around the office as I cannot put any weight on my foot or practice the art of levitation thus avoiding contact with the floor?



Quote:
Originally Posted by MrCEO
Firstly you shouldnt have walked into it; small officer or not you should avoid walking into things and have raised any concerns
Secondly a week off for your injury is bad enough; the fact you want longer is just ridicolous.

I walked into it as it was in my walkway - I did not deliberately injure myself! I did say we have raised concerns since February but nothing has been done.

The words are ridiculous and office! As I have replied to the other poster, I have yet to master the art of levitation!

geri1965_2

Our secretary had 3 weeks off with a broken big toe. She still uses it now when she needs an excuse not to come up and do something.

liney

Normal practice is to strap broken toe to second toe and limp on. I would imagine a doctor would say you are "fit" to do a clerical job. Manual labour may be slightly different.

SusieWinwood

MrCEO wrote: »

Care to tell us which doctor states you cannot put any weight on it as there is zero medical evidence that people should not walk on a simple broken toe.

No Doctor has said that I have. Don't worry your little head - I have a GP's appointment tomorrow and will hop into her office and show her offending digit! :mad: Aside from the medical evidence, I cannot put any weight on it. Simples!