couple of random questions

eminemfan001

1) I work in a supermarket on the counters (fish, meat, deli and hot chicken depending on where im needed) I'm contracted to 32 hours a week over 5 days but the only uniform i have been provided with is 1 pair of trousers, 3 polo shirts and 1 fleece. I have asked for an extra pair of trousers as the one i have is starting to look scruffy and i worry about wearing it 5 days in a row without getting a wash in between (I dont normally have enough time to get it dry before work again so i have to do it on my days off) I have been told that it will take around 6 months to get a new pair and in the meantime I have to make do. Do the company have to provide me with extra unifrom and replace what is damaged? I dont like the idea that im handling fresh food and wearing clothes that might have been contaminated the day before (eg. i work on raw meat one day where blood spills on my trousers then the next day I work on deli which is cooked meat)

2) We have to use certain chemicals to clean the dishes but I have taken an alergic reaction to them and as a result my arms have been covered in a rash and a few of my fingers have lost sensation. I spoke to my manager and she said i will need a doctors note to state that I need to wear waterproof gloves at work. This is not a problem however the gloves they will provide are to big and the water gets in anyway. If i want other gloves they have said i need to pay for them myself. Is this true as well or do they need to provide me with gloves?

There is another member of staff who buys her own gloves but she doesn't think its fair either as the gloves provided are not designed for using in water so she hasn't got much choice.

Thanks for reading

BlueAngelCV

1) I'm not sure about this sorry but have you tried explaining that you think it is a health and safety issue? How specialised is the uniform? Could you get away with wearing another pair of trousers?
2) Yes they do have to provide you with gloves that work. This is personal protective equipment (PPE) and it is their responsibility to provide it not yours.

How long have you been working there? They don't sound great & I might be starting to look elsewhere.

ohreally

Send an e-mail outlining your request to your line-manager and copy it in to manager with responsibility for store hygiene and environmental health at local council.

Raise issue with health and safety rep.

PPE should be suitable for both task, environment and the individual wearing it.

McKneff

personally I would be just buying myself another pair or two of trousers.

PPE that works for you should be provided by your employer, no question. If you are suffering because of it they are leaving themselves wide open to litigation. Make your request for PPE in writing and explain your difficulty. And keep a copy.

dickydonkin

The ideal solution would be to find out what is causing your skin problem -then the PPE wouldn't be an issue.

Mention the PPE to your employer by all means, but there should be a COSHH risk assessment for the product that is being used - although I suspect there won't be. This should be your priority.

Safety Data Sheets provided by the supplier of the cleaning material will indicate what may be causing your irritation, but these are complicated technical documents and may need someone to decypher the information.

If the supplier is a major one, they may have an information hotline. Also, have a look at the label of the product -that may also provide some information as to what is causing your irritation.

As others have pointed out, the law is specific on PPE and no employee should have to pay for it - but as I always mention when PPE is referred to on these boards, PPE is at the bottom of the hierarchy of risk control measures and should only be considered as a last resort.

As an aside, the number of employers who believe that they have 'COSHH Risk Assessments' when in reality they only have safety data sheets from the supplier, usually placed in an unused tatty file in a cupboard never ceases to amaze me.

Edit to add:

Out of curiosity - are you sure it is the washing up chemicals that is causing your problem? Allergic reactions or skin irritations can also be caused by contact with raw meat.

sammyroser

I've never been offered trousers as part of a uniform so am not sure if you will be entitled to more pairs if they are ones you can buy normally ie. no logo.

As for the gloves yes they should provide you with ones that fit however...

I once worked in a supermarket where COSHH was in place, we were provided gloves but were way to big so we ended up wearing a couple of pairs each Didn't completely stop the washing liquid getting in which would cause skin irritations on anyone with prolonged exposure.

Bottom line, most supermarkets are crap to work for.

Again need to contact your manager and mention PPE.

eminemfan001

thanks everyone for the help. i will try and answer everyones questions. I have been working in the supermarket a total of 3 and a bit years but in that time have been on checkouts then petrol station then counters. According to my manager they will be sending out forms for all staff soon so they can order new uniform so that should be sorted soon and I should get my allowance. I could in theory go out and buy my own but they have to be ones that are the exact same colour (navy) and be the same fit.

I did think i was maybe allergic to the raw meat but i cook a lot at home and it doesnt affect me there so im pretty sure it cant be that. Im not the only one to have a reaction to this (at least 2 other members off staff have told me they are alergic) and i also have sensative skin using other products like soaps so i really am convinced it must be the chemicals we use. also we ran out this week so are using washing up liquid and my hands and arms feel fine today

We dont get safety sheets but im guessing the manager must? if we run out of the product we get it from through that back. i will check what the bottle says tomorrow and post the name of the stuff to see if anyone else has heard of it.

I agree supermarkets are bad but sadly they pay more than anything else in my area and are pretty much the only secure place to work at the moment, ecspcially where i live! I dont think i will ever manage to leave since my bills wont pay themselves lol.

dickydonkin

eminemfan001 - have a look at this.

This is what a manufacturer by law has provide to conform to chemical supply and packaging regulations.

I have used a washing up liquid form as an example, however, all data sheets (msds) are of the same format.

Have a look at sections 8 and 15 - these will provide what PPE is required and the potential harm that may be caused.

Find out the name of the product you use and put it into google followed my 'msds'.

Most suppliers will have these sheets available to download. Again, just a reminder that these are not risk assessments, but can be used to assist in compiling one for the product.

eminemfan001

thanks for that i did a quick check on google but couldnt find anything. i will check again when i have a bit more free time (and patience!). the name of the stuff is aseptopol (that should be the right spelling) if anyone on here has heard about it?

my assistant manager came back today and agreed i need to go to the doctors as soon as because something is definetly not right with my arms and hands. just need to try and get an appointment now which could be interesting lol.

Jaxb_2

http://www.sevron.co.uk/free-msds-download/ecolab/aseptopol/

ohreally

eminemfan001 wrote: »

my assistant manager came back today and agreed i need to go to the doctors as soon as

Your line manager should be referring you to the employers occupational health provider asap, in addition to you visiting your GP or does the employer view an employees GP as a free alternative to them providing an OH service?