Rank: Forum user 
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Having just come out of a construction site safety meeting, i was left slightly bemused that a "permit to pray" system may be introduced following the following incident: Construction workers enter welfare facility to prepare and eat lunch, they find that the sink is being used as a footwash before the said person lays his mat on the canteen floor and proceeds to pray.
There now appears that provision is to be made for "footwash" facitlity and mecca facing pray area to be introduced.
Views please...........................
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Riskybizz
I would normally expect to see similar posts on the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development forum.
In my experience this is an issue that would be dealt with by HR not HS.
If it is serious enquiry
Steve
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Rank: Super forum user
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I think that the issue is both a HR & H&S joint working area remembering to note that welfare comes primarily under WHSW & similar & not employment law but; in my personal experience, as 'Welbeing' is becoming kudos HR are getting in on the act more and more
One question: How many HR people attend/visit &/or are based on construction sites? Anybody any ideas?
As when I was a HR manager the HR team I took over did not see it as part of their job - until, that is, I educated them?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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riskybizz wrote:.............There now appears that provision is to be made for "footwash" facitlity and mecca facing pray area to be introduced.
Views please........................... I don't see a problem here - the office I last worked in had a small room set aside so that staff could have somewhere quiet to carry out their daily prayers [to Mecca or anywhere else]. It seems only right and logical that suitable provision be made to accommodate staff's wishes.
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Rank: Forum user
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It was a serious posting, as it's something i've not come across before. Initially i consider it to be an H&S issue as it involves "misuse" of welfare facilities. There is no guidance in the whsw regs to provide such facility on construction sites or otherwise. I will update the posting when the main contractor makes a decision.
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Rank: Forum user 
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Why would you need a "permit to pray"?, I know of sites that have a religious room for all faiths (which is commendable). The idea that religious issues are a H&S issue is a case of we don't know which box it goes in, firmly in HR.
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Rank: Forum user
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Dont shoot the messenger guys...Having little experience in religious rooms etc i asked for views, and i was quoting the main contractors course of action to have a "permit to pray".
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I think it is both, it is a welfare issue if the person is washing his feet in a sink that people use to wash thier hands, it is also a safety issue for the person washing his feet he is either standing on one leg and washing one foot at a time which means he could become unbalanced and fall or he is climbing on the sink unit to wash both at the same time he could fall or the unit could give way under his weight and injure him.
The person should be offered alternative arrangements, try talking to him and ask what arrangements would be suitable. It could also end up in bullying as the other workers may not like him washing his feet in the sink and then they have to use it for handwashing and food preparation area.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Absolutely provide additional foot wash facilites (washing their feet in the canteen sink is gross!) and somewhere to pray prevents offence to others as well as giving them privacy.
These types of cultural issues are not uncommon in the workplace, in particular welfare problems are not uncommon, with different cultures having different ideas on what is acceptable (I'm sure many of us have relevant stories on that one!).
It is a HR issue but can stray into H&S welfare issues too so might as just go with the flow.
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Rank: Forum user
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I assume a risk assessment has been carried out regarding allowing people to be running around barefoot on construction sites ??
If the sink in question were specifically designated for food preparation and washing up etc. then i would certainly say there was a health and safety issue regarding hygiene. If however the sink was used to wash hands and no-one complained about that, then I don't see why feet would be considered any different.
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