Posted By Doug Russell Here's an 'elfnsafety' dilemna for the current hot spell. I work for a trade union. In the last week there have been several calls from members working on check-outs in supermarkets. Their complaint is that managers refuse to allow them to have bottles of water with them while working on the check-out. Same managers are also refusing to give them more frequent breaks to have access to cold drinks. So they have to work 3.5 to 4 hours before they can get a drink on their normal break. When pushed the reason given is health and safety - apparently something to do with electrical equipment. Yet in lots of other stores managers not only allow staff to have water but provide it free of charge to help them cope with the uncomfortably hot weather! I know which side I'm on in this, but would be interested to hear opinions.

Posted By Merv Newman I agree with Allan. I'll bet the managers keep a bottle of water close to their desks, or take a break when they feel they need it. Stupid people. Most companies I work with supply it free or have distributers (who is it ? Hooligans, Currigans ?) Could you persuade a few of your members to collapse dramatically across someone's shopping ? Not all at once, (syncronised swooning to be avoided) and do share it around the customers. I very often have a mug of coffe (aberlour at the moment) while working on my computer. Ne accccidernts so fer) Merv

Posted By Steve B It happens a lot, and has been discussed on these forums many times were Health and Safety has been used as a cop out. In this case as said above the ammount of liquids passing over the check-outs makes an ass of the statement. If you visit the HSE website you can download free booklets on heat stress and dehydration. one of the control measures listed by the HSE states: Prevent dehydration. Working in a hot environment causes sweating which helps keep people cool but means losing vital water that must be replaced. Provide cool water in the workplace and encourage workers to drink it frequently in small amounts before, during (this is not possible in some situations e.g. respiratory protective equipment use or asbestos removal) and after working. So in a nutshell, cool water is a good control measure for reducing heat stress and dehydration. Hope this helps Regards Steve B

Posted By Peter Moran If the difficulties continue I would consult your District Union Rep to formally meet management to resolve the issue. Checkout staff have the same rights as everyone else and would be within their rights to withdraw their labour....a few empty checkouts would soon put paid to management's obstinacy and in a tribunal they wouldn't have a leg to stand on!

Posted By Gilly Margrave Hi Doug, The usual rubbish around liquids and ICT equpiment is "someone might spill something". Seeing as most tills have plastic overlay that is a load of you know what. The practical solution is to use spill proof sports water bottles (I've got one on my desk that was a freebie from BUPA). Assume I'll see you weekend after next? Gilly

Posted By jackdaw In my limited experience, managers often (sometimes?) do things like this because: a, they can - it's a power thing; b, they think that shoppers won't like to see checkout operators drinking - it's an image thing; c, because they're daft - that's my professional opinion. As everyone else has said, health and safety is just being used as an excuse again.

Posted By Descarte There probably also thinking, more water they drink, more breaks they have to take. Sounds perfectly reasonable to give them bottes of water to sip whilst they are working as they are often involved in a lot of polite conversation, ironically linked to the hot weather. Could be taken to the european court of human rights, force an employee to sit in the heat working without cool water as they are constantly selling water and ice creams, tourture?

Posted By stephencarey It is my belief that a severe lack of information and training of health and safety for the managers in these rolls that cause the problem plus a real lack of respect for the checkout operater and generally to all staff not in a management role, which appears to be supported from the higher management