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Posted By David Peck
A full-time union official recently approached me with an stated that he had two members that had gone to a house to do some repairs for the local council. When the owner of the house opened the door, he invited the workers to remove their boots.
One of the workers was willing to take his boots off but the other refused stating that, his boots where a part of his PPE and taking them off would place him at risk of injury. The householder refused to allow the worker into his home with his footwear on.
I don't Pretend to know too much about religion but i wondered where the worker stood on his refusal to remove his PPE.
Regulations state that the worker must wear his PPE at all times. It is a fact that the worker could receive injury's from not wearing his safety boots.
If the worker took off his safety equipment to please the beliefs of the householder, then surely the Regulations would be deemed pointless.
As anyone else come across this issue before?
Thanks,,,,Dave
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Posted By Seamus O Sullivan
Hi Dave
There may have been a similar type question asked a few months ago, with regards to work in a mosque. Can't remember when but you might be able to get the answer from that tread.If I remember there were lots of answers given to it.
seamus
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
If this is a problem, it is for the local authority (or other employer) to recognise the position and adjust the methods of work accordingly and reach agreement with the property occupier. It should also take account of the nature of the work involved, does it need PPE to be worn? To say that an individual cannot undertake a specific activity because he/she is unable to wear PPE is quite wrong, is the PPE actually required to undertake the activity in question? If it is then an agreement must be reached to ensure the person is protected, if not why not respect the religious view and work without it.
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Posted By Pete Longworth
I agree with Bob to a certain extent in that the question should be asked "Is there a need for the PPE in the first place?", but that is not the only concern. Basically someone is being asked to work in bare feet. Now, a householder of whatever persuasion is perfectly entitled to ask someone to remove their footwear before entering his house, but if that is a pre-condition for entering, then in my view, the workman is perfectly entitled to refuse to enter.
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Posted By Bill Morrison
Why not tell the householder, that if the workmen are not able to wear the PPE no repairs, this is the sort of nonsense H-S has to deal with at times.
Bill
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Posted By SAF
Diversity and Communication
If the council had a diversity policy/procedure then they would have known the do's/donts that would apply and act accordingly.
Pre consultation would have saved time, money and keep the customer happy.
This could not only be applicable to HS but other operations that require home visits.
Just a few strategic ideas to digress
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Posted By Alan Spiers
I agree generally with previous responces however most tradesmen (or women)whether in factory or households carry out a range of tasks some genually requiring foot protection and some not. The problem is these tasks overlap one another and therefore it is not practicable to keep changing from PPE to trainers so sensibly we make a blanket rule. Cleanleness can be overcome by floor covering or foot protectors although they can create slip & trip hazard so care has to be taken. Other reasons for removing footwear are not acceptable so the householder has a choice to accept the rule and reasons for it or not get the job done, this needs to be explained tactfully as the householder is the customer.
Peter, send me your email address when you settle in your new job.
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Posted By Pete Longworth
No problem Alan
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Posted By graeme12345
Bill, the EU / Government have made our bed and now we must lie in it, even though it is very very lumpy.
I am completely with you on this no compromise, we have enough problems at work without trying to work out some religious request.
If this sik gets their own way, employees may have to fill in a form stating we do not eat pork before entering a property next.
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Now now, keep the religious things under control everyone. This is about the delicate things within a specific religion and they have the same rights of freedom to follow whatever religion they wish. Thats what makes GB a fairer society. We must all have an understanding of these religions and bend accordingly, not to do so would create many more difficult problems. It is quite simple, if the work to be undertaken requires the use of safety footwear, the visit must be negotiated with the householder to ensure the safety of the person doing the work. Where the work can only be done using safety footware, there is a law that overides the religious need and is enforcable. Sorry for the householder, but there you go. But where it is not essential why cause such concern for the person who's home it is. Unless of course you are so intolerant of other religions!!!!
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Posted By M Forbes
I recall going to school, and people of "Islamic" religion did not have to attend the RME (Religious Moral Education) class, as it was deemed offensive to their religion to learn about ours. . . . . yet we had to endure learning about their religion.
Britain is a fair place agreed, but theres a line between being fair and not standing up for ourselves, and i think it's getting too far.
I remember a time when a woman had to be taken into a seperate room in airports before they could take off their veil. Britain is too free, hence we now have more mosques than churches.
Anyway not to start a religious debate, but they have the right to follow a religion of their choosing, we have the right for them to respect our laws.
Regards
M Forbes
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Posted By Bill Morrison
SAF,
Diversity Policy, pre consultation meeting , where does it end?
Its political correctness gone mad, if we have to consider this every time work has to be carried out in hopuseholders premesis how much more red tape will be required.
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Posted By AlisonSM
I think the sensible approach here would have been for the workman to explain why the boots were necessary then ask to view the work to be undertaken without his boots (I'm assuming the premises had carpets / some kind of floor covering).
He could then have quickly determined whether the work could have been undertaken without wearing the boots. If he thought "nope, too dangerous" he could have explained to the gentleman that it would have been dangerous to proceed..that way both parties would have known why the workman was refusing to do the work and signed the paperwork refusing entry etc...
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Posted By graeme12345
Yes it is very simple really, seems to me that the intolerance of others, and the I do not want this I want that, because I follow this faith brigade, always come from religions that are not christian.
You would never ever ever, get a little old English christian lady saying to a Sikh tradesman you cannot come in here unless you take your turban off, just because of her religion, she would except he had a job to do and let him get on with it.
That's tolerance.
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Posted By M Forbes
We are the most tolerant country of other religions in the world. . . . we have mosques all over the place, we dont mind.
However id love to go build a christian church in the middle of baghdad or any muslim country for that matter. . . . i wonder if theyd manage to lay the first brick?
We are extremely tolerable of other religions but to ask us to breach health and safety law for religion is not acceptable.
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Posted By Tom Loomes
Hi forum users,
This thread has been locked while the moderating team discuss its content.
Kind regards on behalf of the moderators,
Tom Loomes
Web Assistant
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