Fire saftey?

[Liza B]

Hey everyone. I am a paid member of staff in a charity shop, only paid staff are allowed to do the banking, (which is fair enough), but some days there are no people to work the till in the mornings. The company says I have to lock the volunteers in the shop while I go to the bank. I think this is wrong, and I do not feel comfortable doing this. There are two fire exits, but I would be locking the front door which is also a fire exit, if a fire was to break out near the only remaining exit, no one could get out. Can the company make me do this are they breaking the law and so can I stick to my guns and refuse to do what they want. At the moment I wait until I have till cover before I go.

Cheers
liza

[Hawkwalk]

why would you need to lock them in the shop? If you dont want to be open while you go to the bank as there is no one to work the till then just close the shop but dont lock it or leave the volunteers the key.

and yes you would be in breach of fire safety regs if you locked a fire exit with staff still working in the shop without them having the means to unlock the door and escape.

[Prudie]

I agree - did you mean that you actually lock them in the shop? Why - to stop them running away?

[welshlibranr]

I'm not sure Liza, but I think I would get in touch with your local Fire Station, they will have someone who can advise you I'm sure, but in the meantime, I would carry on as you are!............I wouldn't comfortable locking them, if there are two fire exits, then I would think that they need to be usable at all times!........

[Liza B]

thank you for your replies. Yes the company expect me to lock the volunteers in the shop, and to take the key with me. I've been waiting for the call to ask why I've not done the banking by a certain time, which is why I'm asking here if its legal, even if it is, I still don't want to do it. I do know other shops that do lock the volunteers in.

[Whickerman]

I can only imagine this contravenes fire regs. It definitely would here where I live. I suggest you call the local fire station and you need to ask for the 'fire officer' who will be able to give you advice without you having to give your name.

[bednobs]

can't they just go to a cafe and have a cup of tea while you do it?

[wolf63]

I volunteer in a charity shop and the volunteers are usually the ones to bank the money at the end of the day.

The shop only has a part-time manager who works only in the morning. The rest of the time we are left on our own.

Do your volunteers cover till duties?

Locking people in the shop is crazy.

[daffy654]

I can't work out why you have to lock the shop just because you have gone to the bank.
Is it because you are the only person who can operate the till? If that is the case then why can't customers be asked to wait (or return) and purchase their items when you get back?

[ladyalex]

I wouldn't volunteer to work anywhere where they locked me in.

[fairycakes69]

Hi I would carry on with what your doing, there is no way they should ask you to lock anyone in a shop.

[boxtops]

They are breaking the law by locking a fire exit, and also endangering the volunteers' safety (so Health & safety would come down on you too). What would happen if one of them was taken ill, the ambulance team couldn't get in?