Refusing to go to work on health and safety grounds?

mowg

suki1964 said:

The other side of the coin is that its not just employers who are responsible for the H&S of the workforce, the workers are also responsible 

Ive had to work throughout,it was scary at first, but now it doesn't cost me a thought. We cant always social distance because of the nature of the work. We only have one loo, one tiny tea room an even smaller office. I myself make sure there is soap and disinfectant available at all times. I just add it to my weekly shop, hand in the receipt and get refunded. As soon as I found hand sanitiser for sale, I bought extra for work, handed in the receipt . Every morning, lunch and evening, I give the door handles, light switches, the sink taps etc a good old going over with anti bac, in works time, not my own. Nothing has been said to me not to, no back biting from other staff members that Im not "working". I do it so as I feel safer. Im making the changes for me because I know I cant change others behaviour. If I felt that people were in my face I would go in with a mask and five minutes before knock off time I would start disinfecting my own work space and again in the morning

Well done, I wish everyone had the same mindset. You are quite right to say that social distancing isn't always possible and my sister understands that. Her issue is that when it is possible (not just possible but easy) then there should be no excuse. And in these circumstances an employer who doesn't make easy changes such as using available empty rooms to space people out more then they're failing in their duty of care to the employee.

suki1964

mowg said:

suki1964 said:

The other side of the coin is that its not just employers who are responsible for the H&S of the workforce, the workers are also responsible 

Ive had to work throughout,it was scary at first, but now it doesn't cost me a thought. We cant always social distance because of the nature of the work. We only have one loo, one tiny tea room an even smaller office. I myself make sure there is soap and disinfectant available at all times. I just add it to my weekly shop, hand in the receipt and get refunded. As soon as I found hand sanitiser for sale, I bought extra for work, handed in the receipt . Every morning, lunch and evening, I give the door handles, light switches, the sink taps etc a good old going over with anti bac, in works time, not my own. Nothing has been said to me not to, no back biting from other staff members that Im not "working". I do it so as I feel safer. Im making the changes for me because I know I cant change others behaviour. If I felt that people were in my face I would go in with a mask and five minutes before knock off time I would start disinfecting my own work space and again in the morning

Well done, I wish everyone had the same mindset. You are quite right to say that social distancing isn't always possible and my sister understands that. Her issue is that when it is possible (not just possible but easy) then there should be no excuse. And in these circumstances an employer who doesn't make easy changes such as using available empty rooms to space people out more then they're failing in their duty of care to the employee.

Could your sister not just commender one of the empty office spaces for herself? Are there the necessary power points etc?

Not going into work is not going to go well for your sister, but having a conversation with her boss saying this is how she feels, and what she personally can do to rectify the situation so she feels safe going into work should help

Bosses don't always see the problems that the workforce do and what's a problem for one may not be a problem to another. My boss is so laid back he's horizontal. All he cares about is that the orders are ready for the drivers when they pull into the yard  How we organise our work, what days off we have, whatever, we manage ourselves and hand him the bill if its costing money  He knows Im shielding mum so he gets that I prefer to work alone as much as possible and the team I work with facilitate that as much as they can. Nothing is in writing, I just said that I would monitor how things went and if I didn't feel I could work there during this time I would ask to be furloughed. Luckily we are a good team, I trust them all not to be breaking the rules out of work and Ive relaxed 

Hope your sister finds a way through this