Posted By Alan Armer We provide a fridge in our rest room that is for the use of staff who bring in their own food and drink. It is extensively used and its availability is not normally abused. Periodically it comes to our attention that some foodstuffs have been there for too long, with "Best before" and "use by" dates being long gone. In the vast majority of cases food is well packaged and shouldn’t affect any of the other fridge contents. This week we noted a plastic bottle of milk that had been put in a plastic bag and which had been there so long that the bottle split and leaked into the fridge. Obviously this was cleaned up and disposed of immediately. The problem I have is that although logic says that we should inspect the fridge contents more frequently we are aware that, technically, its contents are private property. Unfortunately few have the owners' name attached. Despite the milk incident we are undergoing heavy discussion about whose responsibility the clear-out should be. Ideally this should be the owners of the food, but we know that most will leave it knowing that someone else will do it. But if we do it, then we could be accused of 'stealing' someone else’s property, especially if the item noted wasn't affecting anything else. Noting that both we and our employees have a responsibility for each others H&S has anyone any ideas that might prompt the owners of food to act responsibly?

Posted By Jenny Collis Hi I suggest that it is made clear that part of the benefit is keeping the fridge clean and clear of debris. Those that use it, clean it or lose it. Alternatively, inlcude a weekly clear out and clean up on the cleaners specification