Posted By Faye We are company that is run by a board of 15 unpaid but elected volunteers from various sectors of the community in which we work. We have a couple of members of the board who regularly become 'unwell' during meetings because of their failure to manage their personal health issues. Concerns have been raised from other board members and staff as to their responsibility should the board member become ill 'on their watch'. If these individuals were direct employees we would have the policies and procedure to deal with the problem. However this appears to be a gray area depending on who you talk to. Does anyone have any experience of this problem or any advice to give? I would appreciate your help as I have never come across this before.

Posted By Descarte I think you have a responsability to provide sufficient first aid for employees, volunteers, visitors, contractors and member of the public who may be visiting your site, working, meeting or enquiring within. The first aid regs were recently re-done to make sure firms had taken into account the require for provisions of first aid for members of the public, but I htink this was then later recalled, or reworded Upon looking, HSE site says it is not required, but recommended for members of public, though I guess it depends on the classification of your board members as they may be classed as volunteers, and if so are then treated as if employees. http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/faqs.htm#fapublic http://www.hse.gov.uk/fi...d/legislation.htm#duties http://www.hse.gov.uk/fi...aid/information.htm#acop

Posted By Paul Leadbetter Faye Have you raised your concerns with the people involved? They may be acting as they are in what they think are the better interests of your organisation. Explaining the difficulties with which you are presented may encourage them to change their behaviour. Paul

Posted By Glyn Atkinson A suggestion - purely on a practical basis and not necessarily from H&S viewpoint - call an extraordinary AGM, and mark the first item up as suitability to stay on the board with known health problems. Raise a motion, proposed and seconded with voting required - "This meeting believes that anyone attending on a voluntary basis with known health problems who are not attending to their own health is putting the decision making and smooth running of this quorum at a disadvantage in running the " -------------------" business now, and in the future. Although all volunteers, there is a business need to satisfy that is not being upheld by members attending in ill health or suffering poor health whilst in the meetings. We propose to ask for those proven to be in continued ill health to consider their position with the good of the business in mind, to have an option to stand down until their health is improved, or to consider resigning from the committee due to continued ill health." All in favour ----. You need to be aware though of normal human rights, and only consider this for the good of your business, not as some plan to gain power within the company for your own ends.

Posted By Fred Pratley Faye, Who holds the final responsibility for H&S within your organisation? or does the board have a chair person? Someone has a duty of care as if these people are deliberately not taking medication, how can they possibly be a responsible member of the board? And what happens if they fall ill driving a vehicle on your premises, injure someone and you knew this was likely to happen? As already said, ask the person involved and don't be shy about rasing the issue. Best of luck, Fred