Hello all, 'A Homer' is what I generally term as an employee bringing something into work in order to complete a DIY task, etc that they have not managed to do at home for one reason or another eg because of the need for a specific piece or equipment/tool or better facilities that the workplace can provide. Case in point an employee working on a car out of normal working hours managed to drop many litres of oil onto hard standing and created a mini oil spill 'environmental incident'. In this day and age is it acceptable to permit such goings on in the workplace? Environment aside, one ealso thinks of perhaps personnel using equipment and tools, etc for use on their DIY jobs that could present a health and safety risk. Where would we stand if an accident were to happen....as the incident did not happen during the course of work? Does it go on in your workplace? How do you manage it? Have you banned it? If so why? Over to you. Any contributions most gratefully received. Regards, Ian 'Not wishing to be over zealous'

This is a Public Liability issue for me with regards to the individual employee. The employee becomes an invitee and the duty of care afforded to an invitee rather than a duty of care to an employee applies. You would also have to consider the impact on other people in the workplace and/or other work that might be on-going during the "homer". So briefly the organisation inviting the employee to use the facility would have to review the individual circumstances and manage them accordingly. Such activity is often prohibited not because of unacceptable H&S risks per se but because the organsition is not prepared to extend an offer which carries a duty of care; it is often just too much bother for little return. On the other hand there are many examples where simple controls/procedures have been put in place to control "homers" as if they were a work activity. In passing, I would imagine that the employer could consider a claim against the invitee who caused the oil spill but I doubt any employer would follow it up uinless there were some significant matters surrounding the incident. P48

I think there is merit in what the others are saying and it is easier for all concerned to prohibit any such activity because look at the legal wranglings it can cause. That is a bit humbug isn't it? and I know some employers are trying to give their employees a bit of slack in these difficult times, however when it all goes wrong it can cause such a complete nightmare. The trouble is where do you start and finish? Yes you can find workable solutions but realistically how many employees want to change the oil in their cars? All will want something slightly different for sure and then you will be spending all your working hours undertaking assessments etc Not so sure your employer would be quite so lenient then. Rest assured also at some point there will be abuse of your good intentions and the outcomes could be pretty horrific - how would you then defend that? Many years ago I investigated a serious accident whereby an employee lost the bottom part of one leg when he decided to make a bar-b-que out of an 'oil' drum at work. The trouble was he selected the wrong drum, one that had some solvent in it instead and it blew when he started cutting it with the flame torch. The ensuing investigation by the HSE was pain enough, but also the insurers, the head office of the company - a multi-national. Hours and hours were spent investigating the cost exclusive f the increased insruace premium even 20 years ago was 6 figures. I think you also have to be very careful letting employees borrow equipment - you have to think of things such as - what if they dont use it for its intended use and there is an accident? what checks will you do when it comes back to ensure it is then safe to go back into the workplace because if you dont and there is an accident you can hardly blame the employee and once again how happy will your employer be if maintenance are spending a chunk of time re-testing and checking equipmet being brought back in to work, then there is the stuff that isn't signed out and goes mssing......oooo minefield uncomfortabley over zealous.....!!!! head ruling heart

Surely not if it's a garage workshop!