The Law, Work and Safety Shoes,... where do I stand?

RickDawson

ohreally wrote: »

Why the reluctance to involve occupational health, this is their purpose.

They'd investigate it and get the GP, as the GP has no concrete evidence to say it's "[insert name here]"

having the note is all occupational health would need to satisfy the situation. = their investigation is then closed due to note on file.

I have no reluctance to involve Occupational health.

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Have you actually asked the employer whether they will reimburse you for these shoes in the future or are you looking for something out of nothing?

This is what I'll find out when i have the note, and hand it into personnel. and they will inform Occupational Health.

eamon

Its likely that the OP's employer has gone for a cheap to supply option. Probably works fine for most people but there are some people that need to be treated different. Solutions are varied e.g. one of purchases. There are two issues involved the law (if PPE is required then the employer has to pay for it) and individual comfort. This link will take you to the relevant HSE leaflet for a good summary
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CEoQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hse.gov.uk%2Fpubns%2Findg174.pdf&ei=pbZjVJOyNIK_sQTg0oKYAw&usg=AFQjCNFF1v8Gt7QoQFqD4YVoNhz3u5AFCQ&bvm=bv.79189006,d.cWc

RickDawson

yep they have gone for the cheaper option...

as in shoes that are slip resistant, but no steel toecaps or other features (waterproofing).

the ones I now use (again) are slip, water, and have steel toecaps.

RickDawson

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Have you actually asked the employer whether they will reimburse you for these shoes in the future or are you looking for something out of nothing?

I just want to do the right thing.

Takeaway_Addict

How much more are your version against theirs?

Also, whilst you suspect the shoes are the issue has anyone actually proven this to be the case? If not the employee isn't liable to do anything more than provide what they already do.

RickDawson

I do not know the cost differences.

and no there is no medical proof, except for me knowing it solves the issues of me having tingling/numbness all around the left side of my body.

Takeaway_Addict

RickDawson wrote: »

I do not know the cost differences.

and no there is no medical proof, except for me knowing it solves the issues of me having tingling/numbness all around the left side of my body.

So how much are the shoes you buy?

If there is no proof then the employer isn't liable to do more than what they are doing now.

RickDawson

They know the prices of both types of shoes..

I will eventually have a doctors note/letter on my work file.

patman99

The Law does require the employer to provide proper PPE. But they can (and most do) place a price limit on things like safety footwear with the employee having to pay any rxtra costs for better footwear themselves.

I work standing on a concrete floor all day, so chose to use gel insoles. This entails having to go a size higher, but is worth it for the comfort.

As you appear to have tried a larger pair as the correct size were too small, maybe the solution is the larger pair with insoles.

jc808

RickDawson wrote: »

no pun intended in the title (lol)

Where do I legally stand with regards safety shoes at work?

I have had some medical problems, which I found to be caused the shoes supplied by my employer (I work in a supermarket bakery, but not a baker)

before the problem of the shoes, I had numbness / tingling which was initially isolated in my left hand and after having a few visits to 2 NHS specialists, they could not find the problem.

I then needed to have a day off due to really bad stomach acid refluxes, which antacids (rennies / gaviscon) could not deal with.
I also had my airways closing up and making me cough
went to my gp about this. which he wanted a test for ceoliac (which when I looked up what it is, is a problem with gluten in wheat and other grains/cereals)
this came back normal. (as in I dont have ceoliac (by the blood test for only one type of gluten protien which the the NHS does)
no solution was ever found by doctors.

I found a number forum threads and comments on articles online, from people in the same situation that said going on the gluten free diet had helped / cleared their problems up.

I tried the Gluten Free diet and it has helped me . no more acid refluxes, and my airways (throat, nose lining, ear canals have returned to what they should be.

shortly after working this out, the government had passed a law that came into effect requiring all employers to pay for and supply suitable footwear for employees who work in areas requiring them.

The problem with my hand was eased by the gluten free diet, but the shoes the company supplied were too small (when given the size I usually have) and I could not even fit in them. They then got me the next size bigger, and I managed to squeeze my feet in them.

I used to purchase safety shoes through the company, and I purchased some before the law came in.
I didnt use this pair (purchased ones) as the shoes the company supplies to comply with the government law were issued before I had the chance to get some insoles for them.

The problems with my hand eventually got worse and spread around my left side, so I went back to the GP and was referred back to the neurologist.

nothing was ever found again.

The medical problem was affecting my work performance, and I was getting told about my work performance not being good, leading to personnel sending an email to occupational health and getting them involved.(nothing come of this yet as far as I know)

I then decided to try the shoes I had got before I ended up using the ones supplied by the company under the government law.

these shoes have eased the problem, and with exercise (moving my leg around) hads removed the medical problem.

I have put a letter into the GP (quickest way to get a GP to take action, than getting an appointment as I was due to get another MRI scan, which I no longer needed and thus cancelling it)
They wanted to phone me, which at lunchtime today they did (12th nov 2014)

everything was explained, and he said he would let the neurologist know, and sort a letter / note to put on my file at work.

work has said, that If i can get a letter / note then that will be accepted, and will remove the need to have occupational health involved, and I think my work rate has improved due to sorting the shoes problem.

Where do I stand legally with regards to the shoes (I will have a medical letter / note on file stating the supplied ones are unsuitable and cause problems).?

what is the law on this?

The shoes that are suitable, are the ones I buy through the company, which are a different safety shoe, from another manufacturer.

I've tried finding the info online, and failed to find it. :wall:

Sorry, could you give us a bit more information?