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Posted By Jacqui Nolan
I am currently investigating if there is a formal risk assessment for Animals in the Workplace. I have tracked down RAs for Professional Dogs i.e Therapy and Guard Dogs but am wondering if anyone has a template for 'domestic/pet' animals in the workplace.
Some procedures are already in place but no formal RA form. Also the issue of insurance is grey.
The situation is employees of a company is allowed to bring their pets into the workplace which is owned and controlled by their company. However, the employees I look after are a separate company lodging at this workplace but are sub-sub contracted to this main company. Who's insurance governs or animal policy?
Would welcome any advise.
Jay
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Posted By D H
Hi Jacqui - I would suggest that the main company would have the insurance responsibility as the principal contractor.
Therefore if there is a procedure in place for the main contractor, then change a few words in the procedure to accommodate the "sub contractors". Get it covered by insurance.
Best way out however is to ban the sub contractors taking pets in. If that is not practicable - then get insurance.
Dave
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Posted By Jacqui Nolan
Dave
Thanks for your reply.
Alas, the main contractor is part of the public sector thus does not have 'insurance' as such. The employees that I look after, and was myself, part of this public sector but have now been moved to the private sector and our new company has never known animals on site. They were surprised that I had issued guidance on 'Encounter with Animals in the Workplace'. Of course this also covered encounters with non-domestics such as mice, snakes, bats etc.
Whilst I had procedures already in place when part of the'public' and the practice of domestic animals was generally 'accepted', now with the private company - questions are being raised.
I had already upset the ones with animals over fire evacuations by saying animals last out would be advisible becaase of the fire escape route was down a iron circlular outdoor stair case. All I could see was bodies at bottom of stairs after animals panicing, long leads and a rainy day. The Fire Officer would not even advice because of the sensivity of the dog lovers.
Being new to the 'private' I thought I would ask feloow H&S advisers if they ever encounter similar situation.
Again thanks for replying and I much appreciate your advise.
Regards
Jay
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Posted By Bruce Sutherland
Jacqui
Without knowing the exact situation, I would tend to gently point in the direction of bonker conkers......
what on earth is wrong with bring in animals to the workplace, there are certain issues that you need to consider
a) the type of workplace - foundries and food prep areas may not really be suitable!
b) if you are primarily talking about dogs then they will need to be well behaved and socialised, and treated for fleas.
c) there may be a problem with some people who have allergic reactions to pets (in our experience this is a very limited number)
d) obviously there are potential concerns regarding waste - but I would expect that any responsible owner would deal with that
The biggest risk that they then create is that they do create a tripping hazard with their toys.
I run a sizable health and safety consultancy - have various letters after my name (?) and have taken my dog all round the country to work - apart from a very nice MOD police man who threatened to shoot her as she may overcite their police dogs ( that's genuine)she has been a wide range of construction sites, factories, public buildings and the like and she comes to work in our offices most days. Various other people have dogs that they bring to work and when I worked for HSE, dogs did come to work in their offices.
Go on, be a bonzer conker
Bruce
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Posted By Jacqui Nolan
Bruce
Thanks for replying. Our experiences are on / from the same track.
The RAs and procedures that have to be in place for Assistance/Guard Animals are basically similar to the Domestics requirements.
I see no great differences but wondered if anyone in the field had more experience/ problems than I.
Thanks again.
Jay
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