Where do i stand? (long question, sorry!)

[caz21]

I handed my notice in last week, my bosses went on holiday this morning and left me in charge as always, the engineer has been out all day, which is not uncommon, the thing is at lunch time today i phoned him to see where he was and i wasnt coming back in to the office, i hadnt brought lunch with me so at 1pm, i locked up and went home 5 mins away to get some food. 5 minutes later my boss phoned my mobile asking where i was and shouting and swearing at me for leaving the office unattended! he told me to get straight back and phone him, i did! he didnt answer! Thing is my office is in an old mill complex in a woodland, the people who work in the mill are off for two weeks and i am completely alone in the whole complex, i have had delivery drivers come in saying how dangerous this is! I am fuming, as this is a regular thing and i shouldnt even be on my own! is there anything i can do?

[Kim A]

I believe that under current Health and Safety legislation, which enshrines your right to work in a safe environment and which requires your employer to provide a safe working environment for you, that you would have a legitimate complaint. Try contacting the Health and Safety executive and asking if any rules governing lone workers are being breached. I'm pretty sure that being left alone in a building in a wood without some form security isn't acceptable. At the least, your company should have, under its published Health and Safety policy (it needs one of these by statute) a sub-section governing lone working. This should cover what would happen if you had an accident, or were attacked (God forbid!) whilst alone. It should also cover what your responsibilities are with regard to personal security and the security of cash etc on the premises. The company is also probably breaching its insurance by allowing you to work unaccompanied in a rural location. I hope you have a safe afternoon!

[caz21]

Thanks Kim! I've worked like this for two years ill be fine, who would i contact regarding this cant get in touch with CAB! there are only 5 members of staff so its not like i can speak to anyone within the company!

[Kim A]

Give me a rough idea of where you are and I'll look up the nearest HSE office phone number for you. I have the HSE directory to hand.

[caz21]

West Yorkshire! thanks hun

[Kim A]

OK. the West Yorkshire offices of the Health and Safety Executive are at 8, St Paul's Street, Leeds LS1 2LE. The telephone number I have is 0532 446191.
You could also try the Public Enquiry Point at:
HSE Information Centre
Broad Lane
Sheffield
Tel [phone]

Good luck!

[caz21]

Phoned those numbers, they put me through to an HSE info line 0845 345 0055

Sounds like there is no law against it!!! it all comes down to a risk assesment!

[Kim A]

Yes, which the employer is obliged to do!
Under the legislation he/she must:
Have a written, up to date H+S policy if he/she employs five or more people
Carry out a risk assessment (and if you employ five or more people, record the main findings and your arrangements for health and safety
I'm just going to ring my husband - he works with this legislation all the time - I'll get back to you!

[Kim A]

OK. My bloke says:
Under the 1974 Health and Safety Act, the employer has a general duty to look after the health, safety and welfare of his employees. Under the 1997 Health and Safty Management Regulations, he is obliged (and has a statutory duty) to carry out a full risk assessment of the premises, which should include the risk to lone workers.
He also said, that although there is no actual law, the statutory requirements are quite clear, and any H+S inspector coming to the premises would want to see written evidence of risk assessments being carried out and problem areas acted upon. They are particularly hot at the moment on lone workers, pregnant women and young workers, so if you're under 21, up the duff and work alone, you're laughing! Hope this is helpful.

[caz21]

He he ! Thanks hun! I'm 21 does that count? they are such pigs i swear! They defo dont have a risk assesment ! thanks for your help, it will come in very handy! Thank god i'm leaving in a few weeks!

[thugulike]

You are entitled to a 20 minute break if you've been working for 6 hours. It doesn't have to be a paid break but if you have a break it's not unreasonable for you to leave the premises. Put it to management that you will be leaving at lunchtime and they need to manage the situation. They can either get someone to stand in while you're away on your break or they can close. Easy really.

[sue11]

They sound like complete terrors, I do not know why people think they can get away with acting like this. I am an employer, I run a sandwich business and as Kim states, I must have a risk assesment on my premises that is updated on a regular basis. Also all my employees are entitled to a 20 unpaid break once they have worked over 6 hours, but I actuallly pay them for a 20 min break even if they only work 4 hours as I appreciate what back breaking work it is. It seems completely unacceptable that your employer would expect you to man the office all day without a break and I would be very tempted to write him a letter once you are gone and advise him of these facts and that he is breaking the law! Hopefully it may make him treat his next employee a bit better.
Cheers Sue