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Posted By Annette Deacon
I have been asked to do a risk assessment to cover us if staff occasionally bring their children into the office. I would like to give out clear guidelines without being over-dogmatic if poss. Anyone done this before and can give advice? Thanks.
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Posted By Alan Hoskins
Annette,
Make sure that your building is suitable for children to be present - pay particular attention to the construction of stairways and balconies. Many commercial buidlings are designed to standards that do not account for the presence of children.
Alan
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Posted By Aidan Toner
Good luck with your desire NOT to be too dogmatic.I dont think employee sensibilites and awareness will, however, permit anything but well thought out and heavily controlled arrangements to be put in place.Possibly best to give equal attention to (1) controls your staff want and(2) controls your safety collegues will steer you towards.PS -If you get 'strange' controls proposed from your staff, be prepared to consider these parents may have grave reservations about the safety of their children around certain employees.
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Posted By Alan Haynes
Check with your insurance company
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Posted By Bill Parkinson
You will need to think long and hard. There was a recent incident where a worker came into their office to collect their redundancy payment with their child. The child managed to get through a gap between the wall and balcony and fell. The child unfortunately did not survive the fall and the HSE are now involved.
Is it worth the risk. The workplace is a dangerous place for adults so what is the risk for children ?
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Posted By Calum Clark
Our policy states that parents are responible for supervising their children while they are on our premises. If you can't adequately supervise the child then the child has to leave. This would normally preclude someone bringing their child to work as opossed to bringing new babies into the office to show co-workers or popping in for something with the kids in tow.
The age of the child is also a factor as a young teenager might be happy to sit in a chair with his handheld game until mum or dad is ready to give him a lift home where as a three-year old will want to roam about.
Also in the policy is the need for risk assessment. Obviously there are some areas on our premises where children wouldn't be allowed and, as Alan says, you need to make parents aware of any stiarwells, blaconies etc that might be particulalry hazardous for small children.
At the end of the day, its up to managers to enforce this policy but we've had no problems so far. Its good to be family friendly but remember that bringing children into work is a privilege not a right.
Calum
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