Advice Plz

Jayjaybiscuit

Thanks!! Happy New Year!!


Thanks for replies given!

Savvy_Sue

Can you explain how a trolley would help?

An employer is expected to make 'reasonable adjustments' for disabled staff. Your employer might not consider that you are disabled, and / or might not consider that a trolley is a 'reasonable' adjustment - where would it be kept when you are not working?

If reasonable adjustments are not possible then you could be dismissed for incapacity, even if you are considered disabled.

Jayjaybiscuit

I have a store room where i keep my cleaning products it could be stored in there!
The purpose of the trolley is to help carry the big wheelie bin bags from the 2nd floor to the main bin area which is allocated outside in the carpark!! (Sorry I didn't include that in my main post)

Going backwards and forwards from the office floor down to the bin area via the stairs aggravates my sciatica more and I'm scared that during an episode my leg gives out as I'm going down the stairs with the bags.

EDIT: By no means do i class myself as disabled i just wonder if reasonable adjustments can/should be made due to an "ailment" beyond my control?!

TELLIT01

If the bags have to be taken down flights of stairs, how would you get a trolley from the 2nd to the ground floor?

Jayjaybiscuit

There are lifts and ramps that i can use...

The site is very big... Carrying the bags from the office to the lifts to the bin area is a far walk and worse when an episode is coming on... The fire exits lead out onto one of the carparks near the bin area. So its not so much of a walk but I'm concerned about injury that might happen and trying to prevent that!

Another cleaning company in the building i work in give their staff a trolley so its not like its not possible or there is no accessibility there for it!

Savvy_Sue

Jayjaybiscuit wrote: »

EDIT: By no means do i class myself as disabled i just wonder if reasonable adjustments can/should be made due to an "ailment" beyond my control?!

That's not how the law works. If you are disabled, then 'reasonable adjustments' come into the equation. If you are not disabled, no adjustments are required, although a good employer might work with you to make the job easier. A recurring 'ailment' doesn't count as disability, AFAIK, and whether it's within or without your control doesn't matter.

My suggestion would be to work with other cleaners on-site. If you and your colleague both requested a trolley for the bins, it might carry more weight, and if you both expressed health and safety concerns then that would also carry some weight. But I don't think they are obliged to do anything just for you - sorry.

ohreally

You could request your employer refers you to an occupational health adviser and/ or arranges a personal manual handling assessment.

TyreLever

Or as a last resort you could buy a trolley yourself. Cant be expensive.

Tiddlywinks

TyreLever wrote: »

Or as a last resort you could buy a trolley yourself. Cant be expensive.

I use one of these for moving stuff around my garden:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weight-Aluminium-Folding-Barrow-Trolley/dp/B00E8BM3CA/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1484181495&sr=8-10-spons&keywords=magna+cart+trolley&psc=1

Lightweight, folding, relatively cheap and carries a good load.