Time to wash up at work?

unreal1ty_2

For years at work we've been given 10 minutes at the end of our shift to wash our hands etc as we work in a warehouse we can get quite dirty. But we've been told from next week we will not get this and we will have to stay on the shop floor till the end of our shift. Are they allowed to do this? Some of my co workers seem to think there is a law saying if we get dirty in work time we should be able to clean up in work time. Does anyone know anything about this?cheers

AP007

I think that's only if you are handling hazardous chemicals and things.

How long does it take to wash your hands though?

keyser666

AP007 wrote: »

I think that's only if you are handling hazardous chemicals and things.

How long does it take to wash your hands though?

10 minutes

im-lost

do you also get paid extra to put your coat on, or to walk to your car?

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Sorry - there is a full blown recession on, with people being made redundant on a massive basis and companies are trying to scrape every last ounce of time out of their staff presumably to keep businesses afloat.

I'd say - see this as an alternative to someone being made redundant or a reduction in your salaries; and pick your fights carefully.

paddedjohn

AP007 wrote: »

I think that's only if you are handling hazardous chemicals and things.

How long does it take to wash your hands though?

When handling hazardous you should always be wearing PPE, takes about 2 minutes to remove it and your hands only need a rinse so no there is no law for washing up even in that line of work.

maninthestreet

10 minutes to wash your hands???

phill99

maninthestreet wrote: »

10 minutes to wash your hands???

You haven't seen the size of his hands though! And the bar of soap! It's the size of a divan bed!

Hmm71

But surely their hands can't be so dirty by the end of the day it takes 10 minutes to wash them? Don't any of them wash their hands throughout the day, before lunch, after the loo etc?

worried_jim

I have to be ready to work from the second the the clock hits 8am. To do this I need about 10 mins to fire up all the programmes so I am there working at 07:50. The union said that no one should be there until 8am but it is totally unrealistic and a losing battle.
School started at 9am- but no one ever turned up a 9am (except the thick kids, and look where that got them) you were there at 8:45. You don't have to agree with it, this is life, get used to it or join the dole queue.

UnionGirl

The argument you should try is 'custom and practice'.

As the handwashing has occurred 10mins before the end of shift for (how many years?) Anything over 2-3 years, get the men together to complain unofficially and state that it has been 'custom and practice to wash our hands before the end of shift for x years' and would wish for it to continue.