Looking for advise on what my dutys are, and the law

Savvy_Sue

swingaloo said:

There should be a risk assessment and training to use a pump truck. However once trained properly thy are not difficult to use and far easier than lifting and carrying boxes constantly.
Im a 5foot 1inch female and used a pump truck in my last job before I retired at 68. They are not hard to use and the weight is taken by the truck. I would expect though that you should use safety shoes.

And all safety equipment should be provided by the employer, or reimbursement given if they expect you to buy it yourself. 

EnPointe

swingaloo said:

There should be a risk assessment and training to use a pump truck. However once trained properly thy are not difficult to use and far easier than lifting and carrying boxes constantly.
Im a 5foot 1inch female and used a pump truck in my last job before I retired at 68. They are not hard to use and the weight is taken by the truck. I would expect though that you should use safety shoes.

I agree  

I know plenty of petite and diminutive adults  who  use pump trucks as part of their daily work and on a well maintained  surface  the vastest majority of people can  move up to a tonne in weight  on a 1200 *1000 pallet stacked to 1500 or 1800 mm 

risk assesmsent for  pallet trucks  usually  does say  safety footwear and perhaps  gloves 

training to  use a manual pallet truck takes 30 -45 minutes   a powered pallet truck  training will take a little longer  if you aren't used to  pallet truck and don't have any other MHE training  

Grumpy_chap

Whitebeast said:

Hi I work for a family owned retail store in devon, and I work on the shop floor as a retail assis, putting stock out and making it all look neat ect, But now they are telling me I need to pull in HUGE heavy pallets from the warehouse when shop is closed on to the shop floor, Im a 5ft female in my 60s and I have health condetions with my joins, they said I have no choice in the matter and I have to do it. they tried getting me to do it tonight and I refused, My Question is, Should I have to be quailified or trained in to use of a pump truck before I even touch it as others have had no training or anything and already been doing it, Do I need special shoes ect, and can they make me do it. I been there 4 years, I give anything a go but I just wouldnt be able to saftley do this cause of my health condetions.

Any advice would be great thank you x

Most job descriptions have some kind of catch-all phrase such as "any other duties reasonably required".

Part of your role is putting stock out.  It could very easily come under the "any other duties" catch-all that this includes bringing the stock from the store room to the shop floor.
You may need to accept the task is one you need to do and speak positively with the Management to explain your concerns and ask how this can be made suitable for your strength and health conditions.  This may include asking about Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS), which would then naturally lead in to identify any PPE required (safety shoes) and any training.  If, with the PPE and training, the task remains beyond your physical capabilities, that may need to be discussed further and possibly involve Occupational Health.

The trouble is, this is all a bit of an "idealistic" answer as you mentioned a family owned retail store so RAMS and OH may be outwith what the owners actually have.  

Savvy_Sue

And there's nothing to stop you joining a union - USDAW? https://www.usdaw.org.uk/ They many not support you immediately if it gets sticky, but they may well be able to give useful information you can use with your employer.