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Morning all
My boss (female) has relaxed the rules for the first time and allowed the male species to wear shorts and T shirts to work - I work in a Head Office of a reasonably large concern and have to say it is not very professional looking - but needs must!
Anyone else have such a kind hearted boss?
Rich
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Couple of bosses ago; he used to buy all the Office staff ice creams and lollies in this weather.
Maybe your female boss has an ulterior motive for changing the clothing rules!
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It makes sense to me for office workers to wear comfortable clothing whatever the temperature.
I just wonder what are you suggesting SW "ulterior motive"?
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Rich777 wrote:
Anyone else have such a kind hearted boss?
Rich
No!
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mssy wrote:Rich777 wrote:
Anyone else have such a kind hearted boss?
Rich
No!
It obviously depends on the workplace and mssy you may not be in a position to wear shorts and T-shirts.
But if you could what would happen if you did bearing in mind FireSafety101's point which you could use as an argument to justify possible breaking your works Dress Code.
Rich
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look at countries that live in hot conditions as standard and you will find that shorts etc. are the norm and as already stated its horses for courses e.g. risk relative so relax where you can and the way a person dresses has no bearing on how professional they are
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Ha! no more comments from me on this FireSafety101! Except...
Just hoping my boss suggests the female office employees wear shorts and T shirts
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We have a blanket rule on hi-viz vests- they are to be worn in places where there are no powered pallet trucks or FLT's- can't see the logic behind it myself.
The people who work in this area have asked if they can take them off- as its sweltering. The answer was NO.
Andy
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Motorhead
It begs the question WHY?
Rich
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I've gone a bit soft I have allowed them to keep two fire doors open while it is hot. I have written a risk assessment and all people in the building have the responsiblity at the end of the day to check they are closed. I am always first in so if they are not closed they will not be allowed such benefits again. They will have to melt!
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quote=Rich777]Motorhead
It begs the question WHY?
Rich
Lazy management is the only reason. Absolutely ridiculous for them to be worn at ANY time of the year in that area. I was overruled.
The reason I was given was: 'Well they might have to go into the warehouse and its better that they are already wearing one'. There is only ONE person who would be going into the warehouse and its accessed by a lift. So- hang a vest by the lift with a sign saying 'Don't forget your Hi-Viz vest!'
There is a wall by my desk that has a head shaped dent in it.
Andy
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Tongue very much in cheek - how about reloacting to Shetland - nice gentle 15 degrees today!
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Folks in our office wear shorts but they need to be those of a smarter style and not too 'beachy'.
There is an obvious difference when you see them.
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Invictus wrote: I have allowed them to keep two fire doors open while it is hot. I have written a risk assessment...
Which your Employer's Insurers have presumably approved?
OK harsh comment I know, but what does such action do for health and safety culture and behaviours?
Statutory signage (e.g. fire door-keep closed) is to be obeyed at all times - except when........?!
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When common sense prevails.
Invictus why not have a fire drill to see what the reaction is?
If someone closes the fire doors OK but if not have them closed as per normal.
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Motorhead wrote:quote=Rich777]Motorhead
It begs the question WHY?
Rich
Lazy management is the only reason. Absolutely ridiculous for them to be worn at ANY time of the year in that area. I was overruled.
The reason I was given was: 'Well they might have to go into the warehouse and its better that they are already wearing one'. There is only ONE person who would be going into the warehouse and its accessed by a lift. So- hang a vest by the lift with a sign saying 'Don't forget your Hi-Viz vest!'
There is a wall by my desk that has a head shaped dent in it.
Andy
Hang a few high viz vests just inside the entrance to the warehouse?
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Ron Hunter wrote:Invictus wrote: I have allowed them to keep two fire doors open while it is hot. I have written a risk assessment...
Which your Employer's Insurers have presumably approved?
OK harsh comment I know, but what does such action do for health and safety culture and behaviours?
Statutory signage (e.g. fire door-keep closed) is to be obeyed at all times - except when........?!
Harsh indeed Ron!
Surely H&S is about keep people safe and compliance with the law, and not all about keeping insurance companies in the loop. As long as any change has gone through a credible process, I cant see any problems.
I congratulate Invicta's approach which is totally in keeping with fire safety legislation which promotes risk assessment as a live concept and where control measures should be reviewed when circumstances dictate.
The change has been subject to Invicta's RA and (hopefully) recorded. I would argue that the net result to H&S behavior and culture would be a positive one, as a flexible pragmatic and sensible approach has been demonstrated which is poles apart from the jobsworth approach many workers expect after reading the tabloid media.
Having staff on-board and engaged in H&S is what its all about. I strongly believe that demonstrating this sort of common sense will promote staff to take H&S (and H&S professionals) seriously
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It's all very well 'dressing down' in the office and eating ice creams but what those poor souls at the sharp end head to toe in PPE e.g. hard hat, goggles, hi-vis top with long sleeves, gloves, hi-vis trousers and boots. No RA for hot weather working because it is all mandatory.
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In HOT countries they wear full arms and legs cover against the sun, hat with neck shield and gloves.
Working outside in the sun leaves one open to sunburn sunstroke etc.
At present we are experiencing similar heat to those countries but we just strip off and plead ignorance.
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I await the entrance of the first male worker wearing a thin summer dress and sandals......
Equality......
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I have carried out the risk assessment and it is recorded. I did not report it to the insurance company. I did report it to the director who agrees that we should do all we can. I believe that by consenting to this and completing the R/A it stops people doing it on the sly and forgetting to close them at the end of the day. The fire officers have been informed and all personnel in the area, I have not come in to the doors being left open yet.
We have had a visit from the FRS this morning and they didn't mention the doors being left open, I would rather have them with magnetic closers on them but maybe thats for next year.
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FireSafety101 wrote:In HOT countries they wear full arms and legs cover against the sun, hat with neck shield and gloves.
Working outside in the sun leaves one open to sunburn sunstroke etc.
At present we are experiencing similar heat to those countries but we just strip off and plead ignorance.
Actually in hot countries they go home at 13:00 and spend the hottest part of the day chilling out.
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A Kurdziel wrote:Actually in hot countries they go home at 13:00 and spend the hottest part of the day chilling out.
Really? All those days working in Australia and I was getting screwed out of an early finish.
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This is of based on cultures that have adapted to working in a hot climate see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siesta
In Oz the incomers liked to pretend that they were still in the Home Counties and so they continued to work throughout the day (‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen…’)
Nowadays in hotter climes they have air con but the tradition of the siesta remains. Here we have neither a siesta culture nor proper air con in a lot of places. Worst of both worlds.
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Invictus wrote:I've gone a bit soft I have allowed them to keep two fire doors open while it is hot. I have written a risk assessment and all people in the building have the responsiblity at the end of the day to check they are closed. I am always first in so if they are not closed they will not be allowed such benefits again. They will have to melt!
Some interesting replies on this.......even in the north it has been hot and i frequently see doors open on site visits, a sensible considered approach here is needed with a focus on sensible risk for sure, it would be wrong surely for employees to melt in the heat inside a building to keep an insurance company happy?; of course the opening of the doors would need to factored into the overally risk management strategy and a process/check for closing these
Paul
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When referring to fire doors, do people mean the heavy fire-resisting doors in fire resisting walls, doors fitted to maintain a smoke-free escape route or emergency exit doors?
Many of us tend to use the same term for each of these although of course they are quite different sets of doors, each having their own purpose.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Our offices face the afternoon sun and are notoriously hot in summer. No-one wants to see me in a mankini, so I sent out an email letting people know that they can wedge fire doors (normal corridor doors) in occupied areas only, as long as we can ensure they are closed when they need to be.
This involves ensuring all fire doors are closed by 5pm (most of our staff leave after this time) and that wedges are removed while exiting the building if the fire alarm sounds. I appreciate this last item is difficult to commit to in all forseeable fire situations, so (unbeknownst to any colleagues not reading this forum) we are having an additional fire drill to observe what happens.
The 5pm part is working well and people are taking responsibility for keeping doors closed in empty areas or rooms - it's nice to see how people become more conscientious about this when they don't simply think they're not allowed to wedge doors open and just do it anyway.
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