IS THIS RIGHT??

[anthony25]

i started a new job as a car dismantler around 10 weeks ago,since ive been there certain issuse that im aware of is constantly considering me to leave although if i do and go to the jobcentre i may not be allowed to get any benefit untill i find another job as i would be walking out of a job.....the problem is the owners are russian,im 31 years of age and work extremely hard as the boss ia always rushing us to do things quicker and quicker,we are lifting engines out with rear seatbelts that get removed from each vehicle it gets tied round the engine mount,then there a gurder above the engine bay with a hanging chain and track the seatbelts then tied to the hook then the chain is pulled to lift out the engine,me and my friend then have to strip all the parts off the engine while its hanging from the belt and chain,if it snapped theres going to be serious injury,also a lot of cars when brought in to garage still have air con in the system,we are told to just undo the nut to release there air con out into the air,once this starts coming out we are told to stand outside until the airs cleared,surely this has to be vacumed out as such and is illegal?? and cant be good for my health as when we go back into the garage you sort of still taste it in your mouth,theres also the recovery truck that the company owns and has come to my attention it has no operating licence yet they send out my friend to collect vehicles from all over the country..what do i do????..i fear for my safety..but also dont want to be out of a job?

[mccfluff]

with the rear seat belts

really???

[redcrx]

its not safe, you have to think about whether a job is worth serious injury.

call your local health and safety and give them full details of what breaches there are. They will no doubt do a spot check on the company and issue papers to stop these dangerous practices happening.

[redcrx]

http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.htm

[anthony25]

yes with seatbelts

[factor-fiction]

Well if you can't tell your employer of your concerns you could always tip off the Environmental Health officer.

[mccfluff]

call H&S then

[sara3]

a full-stop wouldn't have gone amiss.

[ichkeria]

"the owners are russian"

Why does that not surprise me!

[anthony25]

i have 3 friends who all share the same issues regards to safety i guess we all want our job but i think the wages we get for what we do is rediculous

[ichkeria]

I strongly suggest you follow redcrx's advice

[redcrx]

REPORT IT! dont sit thinking about it, get something done. If not for your own sake for your colleagues.

[anthony25]

if i contact health and safety,will it be confidential.?

[Squitty]

anthony - to answer your question - no its not right and you also know its not right.
The right thing to do is to report you employers but you will most likely lose your job.
There are always going to be people like this - if they get shut down they will just open up somewhere else or under a different name.
Just imagine if you do nothing, get another job and then your mate gets seriously injured.
If you would feel bad about that happening then that'll be your conscience telling you what you should do.

[mccfluff]

you can ask for it to be confidential

however if this is carrying on then the premises will be shut down and you'll lose your job, but you will be able to get benefits i presume

[anthony25]

does anyone know if it is actually illegal to release out air con ???

[redcrx]

yes, and deliberate release of the refrigerant gas is illegal.

yes you can keep your call confidential.

DO IT NOW.

[mccfluff]

yes it is

[redcrx]

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg349.pdf