Posted By Philby' please may Phil be excused on the grounds that he is very busy but bored! signed.... his dad On a more serious note, and a little disjointed.... if a company decides that it is not resoponsible for the costs of travel to/from work, reasonable, and makes no exception for when that travel means travelling to sites other than base, unreasonable, on the grounds that you are travlling to/from work wherever that may be, despite disparities in distance and accessability... how can it possibly try and impose a no duty of care for the same journeys'...thinking of the lonely site and no-one wanting to take responsibility as an out of hours contact/emergency response etc scenario... I've advised from a regulatory side but to no discernable effect, although I'm not party to the company, staff, managers and what and how this was put...mi mucker is adamant that this is what the co. are trying to impose...though have not put in writing, so I cannot see how they could enforce...and there would be no defence PS, and this is not an doctors excuse, 'I have a friend', this isn't my industry but a quite obviously construction related one...on the legal side!

Posted By Bill Parkinson An employer is not likely to take responsibility to pay expenses to and from home to the normal work base as technically they are not at work until they arrive at that workbase. However, (this is where it can get interesting) travelling to another place at the behest of the employer falls into working time and also if they are using their own personal car the PUWER regs kick in as well (so their car must be fit for purpose and the employer is required to check such things as competence of the driver etc.). Also Occupational Road Risk issues come into play in that where this occurs the employer should be assessing these risks to ensure that they are not asking the employee to drive and work excessive hours as should they become involved in an incident the employer may be dragged into the ensuing investigation and litigation aspects. Also in the case of a road traffic accident the police will undertake as part of the investigation whether the person was "at work" and may pass information to the relevant enforcing authority if required (under the concordats signed between them).

Posted By Philby' Bill, thanks, this and many other bits of info have I given but to no avail...as I said, they haven't put this in writing and are 'advising' orally of their 'policy'. I have said that this would be impossible to defend but, in the real world, fear plays a factor... Philby

Posted By Philby' David, that's the policy we operate here and have also suggested, I should really have told you all that I ahd done already but I am notoriously slow, and dyslexic, so you'll have to forgivew me...I still don't understand their thinking but basically...they have been told that reimbursement for travell, food etc if within 'the region', very west West Yorks, is the responsibility of that person. It is the line they have drawn in the sand as to difference between travelling to from work/close sites and sites around the county/country.... As they supply a company car and the fuel card I don't think this is the issue, its the 'once its five o'clock you don't work for us/your on your own time' attitude... I've covered all the lone working issues, violence/abduction/breakdown/falling down holes/emergency contacts/regular and routoine status calls/codewords and personal protection. My angle really is persuading her that no matter what they say, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on, don't sign anything, (and if afraid of pointing out the errors of their way, let them go on thinking they're right)

Posted By Stupendous Man What does the employment contract say? If place of employment is limited to one site, the responsibility will be different to a contract giving 'any site' as base.

Posted By Philby' The issues not the cost...its the loneworking and not taking responsibility for it...However, as I said, no ones put anything in writing, just strongly intimating that after five pm, or before eight am, safety is personal responsibility...I haven't seen the contract of employment, and I'm begining to doubt there is one, but when instructed to be somewhere, by a set time, and to leave when the job is done, then they are contracted....

Posted By Fred Pratley Hi, Pleased someone appears to be taking an interest. The lone meeting with unknown persons etc bit reminded me - might be worth your friend talking with www.suzylamplugh.org. Trust this helps, Fred