Workplace/Desk Health & Safety

TELLIT01

As the OP's wife is pregnant it would seem that only a short term solution is required at this time. The door stop option seems the obvious one subject to the observation by Silvertabby. Wedging the door open is probably a non starter due to fire regs.
The H&S person really should be on top of this. If the door hits the chair every time it is fully opened, it could just as easily hit her head if she happens to be leaning back. I'm sure they wouldn't think it so trivial then.

theoretica

The door stop should be near the hinge/wall so it isn't a trip hazard. One doorstop, one screwdriver, about 5 minutes faff and it is sorted.

What I don't see is how this is a greater hazard to a pregnant lady than before she was pregnant - it really should have been sorted earlier.

elsien

theoretica wrote: »

What I don't see is how this is a greater hazard to a pregnant lady than before she was pregnant - it really should have been sorted earlier.

Not sure it is. The OP said it was an issue from when she started working there so the pregnancy is maybe being used to bring it to the fore again.

dickydonkin

theoretica wrote: »

What I don't see is how this is a greater hazard to a pregnant lady than before she was pregnant

Because an expectant mother may just be attempting to leave her desk and just when she raises herself from the seat, someone enters the room and clatters her seat potentially resulting in a fall or body impact.

The so called safety manager should really stand his ground as he must know there is a potential risk.

There should also have been a workplace assessment undertaken which is usually in the form of a questionnaire where staff complete the form and the safety person will review and address any issues.

Something like this http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.pdf gives the opportunity to highlight problems with a section available to raise other issues.

As is suggested that the 'safety manager' has undertaken a risk assessment to take into consideration the expectant mother, if he is not addressing potential risks - particularly with a pregnant member of staff, he should not be doing the job.

I wonder if this safety person is just a member of HR with no formal qualifications and is safety manager by name only as I would find it difficult to believe that a good safety professional would not act on the concerns.

colstu310

Thanks for the replies again, to update on this after speaking to my wife after work last night.....

The manager, who i thought she had said was H&S, is not. Is only another senior manager who was giving his opinion & pre-empting the MD's response.

When then door opens, it hits the back of my wife's chair. It does not need to be fully opened or even to a right angle from the frame for this to happen. She says that most people know that she is there so dont open it fully or abrubtly. IMO a door stop would be a trip hazzard due to the position of the desk & her chair. Even if it was close to the wall, it would then create a hazard situation by not allowing the door to open fully.
There was no issue before she started as no one sat at this desk.

When the MD said "so...put a door stop there" it was said in such a way that he wasnt interested that the door was hitting anyone.
I think its the attitude that makes it worse. My wife has been told that the MD doesnt want the desk moved at all so to move to face the wall suggestion isnt even an option. He doesnt want the office to "look that way"

The H&S person that carried out the risk assessment is on leave at the moment so my wife cannot see her to check the outcome of the assessment & actions to be taken.

My question/point now I guess has changed......
how can anyone go against H&S recommendations? MD of the company or not.
Its the attitude that is getting to me most, pregnant or not. The attitude of not wanting the room to look a certain way baffles me.
Where do we go from here if H&S say that the desk should be moved but the MD doesnt want this due to how the room will "look"??
Thanks again

NYM

Could your wife change desks with someone else?

colstu310

NYM wrote: »

Could your wife change desks with someone else?

Potentially yes.
But surely a H&S risk is a H&S risk no matter who is there.

Not been put forward yet, but im sure my wife would need to suggest it. But then you know what people can be like when it comes to where they sit in an office "ive sat there for X years etc" or "why should i move"

Tiddlywinks

colstu310 wrote: »

There was the option put forwad by a H&S mgr to have it moved to face a wall & my wife said that that wouldnt be good for her morale, facing the wall with her back to the rest of her team.

Your wife has already been provided with a legally compliant alternative - she turned it down.

As to her being pregnant, why do so many treat this 'condition' as a chance to turn into demanding, entitled and self centred colleagues? Millions of women manage pregnancy every day - many, many with a lot more to concern them than the 'morale' of sitting facing a wall - it's time to just get a grip.

colstu310

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Your wife has already been provided with a legally compliant alternative - she turned it down.

As to her being pregnant, why do so many treat this 'condition' as a chance to turn into demanding, entitled and self centred colleagues? Millions of women manage pregnancy every day - many, many with a lot more to concern them than the 'morale' of sitting facing a wall - it's time to just get a grip.

No no, if you read my follow up post i have stated that that option never actually came from a H&S person. Only an opinion from a manager pre-empting the MD's response. The legally compliant option as you say has been REFUSED by the MD as he does not want the office to look that way. So the option was never there for her to turn down.

& who the hell are you to insinuate my wife being a demanding, entitled and self centred work collegue???
My wife is managing her pregnacy quite well i'l have you know, not that its any of your business.

Yes its a forum & eveyone is entitled to an opinion but to start throwing insults is a bit low. Ive asked for advice on the situation, if that is your opinion on women then why even bother replying? Your two cents in this case are hardly needed/wanted