Health & Safety re loneworker

Gettingtherequickly

I'm not sure if this is the correct place, but would appreciate some guidance.

I volunteer and this entails home visits, been doing it for years and never had a problem, firm believer in gut instinct so if I feel uncomfortable I call and apologise and re-arrange for an office visit. Have always had the support from the office staff in the decisions made by the volunteers.

While this was a local charity, we never had any concerns for H&S because common sense prevailed, while at the same time acknowledging the need for H&S.

However, we are no longer a local charity and while we appreciate their concern for our safety, the contacts we need to make for every single home visit is ridiculous. We are expected to provide virtually every bit of personal information bar our inside leg measurement, but at the same time they forget that we have a greater risk of suffering an injury crossing the road than from the client, and this has to be done every time we visit and for the most part, we see our clients on a weekly basis on a long term basis.

Like I say, we do appreciate the safety concern, but they are going to end up losing alot of volunteers because of the red tape, which will only be a detriment to the clients, and not what the volunteers really want to do.

Surely there must be something similar to the 48 hour week opt out that we can use?

ohreally

What type of visit do you carry out, what measures has the employer introduced or proposed that is causing conflict?

baybeebug

ohreally wrote: »

What type of visit do you carry out, what measures has the employer introduced or proposed that is causing conflict?

Agree need a bit more info before we can offer help

Bigmoney2

Not having risk assessments for you visiting clients would be failing in their duty of care to you (and breaking the law).
It may seem like red tape but is for your safety. As for doing them each week, in practise you wil find that very little will change other than the date on the form.
my company needed risk assessments for travelling on company business, this was needed every time a trip was done, even if it was to the same place for the same purpose. Once initial assessments are done its quite easy to use the same template for all.

Alternatively contact vince cable as he's on a mission to abolish red tape!!

Incidentally it is the 25yr anniversary of the disappearance of Suzy Lamplough. Went to see a client, never seen again.

saintjammyswine

^^^agree with the above. It is a legal requirement that a risk assessment is undertaken ( written if over 5 employees) and updated whenever there is a significant change in the working circumstances. One for each location is the norm, unless they are identical with identical risk.

Lone working on its own does not require a separate risk assessment though, it would be included in the one for the location.

Gettingtherequickly

ohreally wrote: »

What type of visit do you carry out, what measures has the employer introduced or proposed that is causing conflict?

It is emotional support and occasionally form filling, so not exactly lifethreatening. Previously, we contacted client initially to make appointment for visit and then, if it was felt necessary at the time, arrange for regular session, same time, same place. Details were then given to local office.

Now we

1. Make initial contact with client
2. Advise local office (office 1) of details of visit arranged
3. Advise office 2 of details at least 24 hours ahead of visit
4. Advise office 2 of arrival at visit
5. Advise office 2 of completion of visit

And of we have not called within 1hr & 10 mins of arrival to confirm leaving, we will be called and if no response, it will be a 999 call.

Like I say, appreciate the need for Health & Safety, but feel it is unfair that the client is expected to trust us, but we not trust them.

scheming_gypsy

Bigmoney2 wrote: »

Alternatively contact vince cable as he's on a mission to abolish red tape!!

.

i might make him my new best friend; i hate red tape with a passion...

Gettingtherequickly

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

i might make him my new best friend; i hate red tape with a passion...

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

scheming_gypsy

it's true... anything health and safety makes me lose the will to live. Manual handling courses and everything needs to be PAT tested before you can plug it in. What happened to common sense and not being a complete tool? if a drawer is open, don't walk into it and watch where you're going.
Years ago i was working at BT and building services wouldn't let anybody borrow a ladder unless they'd been on the ladder climbing course.

pmlindyloo

I work for a charity as a volunteer and they have put similar actions in place for lone workers who visit clients in their homes.

We all welcome this. Yes, it is more time consuming and you never think anything bad will happen to you but.........................

We were all very grateful that 'the powers that be' were looking after our welfare and recognising the potential risks involved.

Gettingtherequickly

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I work for a charity as a volunteer and they have put similar actions in place for lone workers who visit clients in their homes.

We all welcome this. Yes, it is more time consuming and you never think anything bad will happen to you but.........................

We were all very grateful that 'the powers that be' were looking after our welfare and recognising the potential risks involved.

We have no problem with the actions, and yes, there is always a risk, but common sense needs to prevail. What is the situation if all the necessary calls are made (and for drivers, it would probably be from safety of vehicle) and then the volunteer using public transport is injured, because someone has seen them with a phone?