Working in flooded buildings..

ConfusedChicca

ConfusedChicca

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Laura
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My hubby works in a mill, which is in the process of being flooded by an over flowing river...
I was wondering if he can refuse to work when the place is flooded? There's rats in the mill so they'll be swimming about soon!
 
I would think so on health & safety grounds and depending if the affected area is where he works ie factory floor etc. If he's in a union then they should be doing something.
 
Nah no union involvment. There's 3 levels to the mill and all the staff work on all the floors. It's a tyre distribution company.
 
Difficult, he has rights, he may also have principals, but in the real world if he is only one of a few complaining where would he be in the pecking order when there is a layoff.
Some may disagree with those words but I have been there believe me.
 
Under the Health & Safety at work act if there is a Significant Risk to employees / public etc then the company must make & record a Risk Assessment and act on it.

Not knowing the exact conditions I would imagine there is Significant Risk of Slips/Trips/Falls, Weils Disease, Lung problems (due to damp/fungi etc) and problems if they use any mains power in the damp /wet areas.

"Somebody" could phone up the local Council Enviromental Health / H.S.E offices and give them a 'Nod'
 
As above if the correct H&S method statements/risk assesments have been completed and diseminated and understood by the workforce, apropriate PPE and training, safety gear, Identified escape routes identified then I strongly suspect they have eveyright to remove themself from the risk. Using equipment/electrical items in water is a BIG NO NO and what about storm surges? Contaminated water? Who says the water is safe?...

Having managed a construction site whereby it was refurbing 3 large swimming pools one of which was 5m deep H&S was a big challenge...easiest was to remove everyone and control entry to the areas.

Remeber you can drown in rediculously small amounts of water.

If it was me be easier to send non-vital staff home and halt works than having to explain how someone tripped, fell and drowned to the HSE.
 
ConfusedChicca, was it a happy ending then,:shrug:
 
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