Posted By Alexis B
Hmmmm, Okay, Reg 20 of the Workplace Regs require sanitary conveniences to be 'suitable and sufficient' and the guidance to the Regs 'suitable means .. for the disposal of sanitary dressings.' So you can point out that taking them home is not an option and that the present arrangement is not 'suitable and sufficient.' 10 women, one loo, and you'll likely all be needing it at the same time.

I feel a bit of sympathy for your 20yr old male manager who is probably too embarrassed to pick up a phone and sort this out. Time to take control. It's not hazardous waste it's . A lidded bin is fine though it's better if someone else empties it. Why don't you source and cost and offer to sort the bin, whilst adding that if 6 to 25 people are likely to be in the workplace at one time there should be 2 toilets provided.
Does he have his own separate loo? Are there any other men?

Alexis

Posted By Robert K Lewis
This extends further into the Duty of Care for disposal. Unless these items are listed on the transfer note for your waste bins/skip then it cannot be disposed of via this route. Yes the amount is trivial but it still has to be accurately described on the transfer note.

If you do place this in the bins and it is discovered then there is the possibility of a significant fine for the company, unlike H&S the curent maximum on summary conviction is £50k I think, but stand correction.

Furthermore it is not a matter of removing a plastic bag as these disposal points do need sanitising as the odours can build up rapidly, certainly less than a week. The costs of commercially supplied facilties, including collection, is small compared to problems involved with the current methods.

I agree with the other posters actions as well. Unless properly trained I do not believe anybody should be handling other persons body fluids. Does your manager take his turn - I suspect not.

Bob

Posted By Christopher
Hi Sabethod

I used to work in a college and this was one of my big nightmares. I won't go into on this forum the issues that I had to address. However, I would say, that different ages of woman have very different requirements and the psychology behind this subject is phenomenal.

If you are based in the highstreet, then there are lots of shops which have large numbers of women working in them. If you know anyone working in a business near you, then ask to check out their female facilities. You can then check out the contact details and costs. The company will very likely be happy to remove your rubbish the day they remove other businesses in your area. Feel a bit awkward, walk into BHS, M & S etc and look at their bins. They will have the name of the company on the bin. Check them out on the internet.

The procedures that are being undertaken now, are not only unsafe but breach legislation. You may have a manager, but it is the owner who is likely to have to face the fine.

If you are going to advice an agency, and seek their help, then in your own interests, I would suggest that you ask a male relative to make contact with them, giving a false name. Sound a bit cloak and dagger! Just remember that you have to work there, and it might amaze you how quickly your fellow female colleagues might suggest that they didn't have a problem.

I wish you the best.

Posted By Kenny McGillivray
Hi There

Agree with Clare,

I once owned a company disposing of this type of waste and had a licence from SEPA. They would be interested in your employers attitude. It should only cost about 3 quid a week for a female hygiene bin to be supplied and serviced once per calendar month. The contents are then taken away for incineration and not to the local dump where seagulls get hold of it and then what!!.

by the way this issue is a minefield, I carry out audits of a variety of business types and have come across several child care facilities and care homes where nappy waste is put in a bin bag and into the wheelie bin for collection along with the rubbish. One care home disposing of 30 nappies a day in this way. then the seagulls!!


Kenny

Posted By Robert K Lewis
Quietly contact the Environment Agency - I am afraid however that the shop may close if they take their usual stance. Your local EHO may also be worth a shot.

Unfortunately employers like this can still be found and the decision to inform the regulators can have severe consequences for the staff concerned.

Regrets

Bob

Posted By Alexis B
Sabethod, a sentence was cut short in my posting 'It's not hazardous clinical waste but it is classed as 'offensive waste'. Telling the man it's 'clinical' when he's established it's not gives him confidence to ignore you completely! We're not dealing with infected bodily fluids here so it doesn't need specialist treatment or disposal and can go to landfill (though for reasons already given incineration is preferred). However ...

ALL household, industrial and commercial waste is 'controlled waste' and has to be dealt with properly.

As you've approached him several times already you'll now have the confidence to tell him he is currently breaching the Workplace Regulations 1992 and that inspectors have actually closed down building sites just for having dirty toilet and washing facilities, so would very likely do the same here. Then tell him you have sourced a provider who will visit every month to sort them out at a cost of xxx. I would go for a lined bin where they remove the liner rather than an entire bin they carry through the shop and I would also for for a provider that incinerates rather than putting to landfill.

You can then say that taking this action will demonstrate they are at least doing something if an inspector visits and sees they only have one toilet. Bear in mind before using this stick though that if you are all working shifts and there're only a couple on at a time what you have will be sufficient so don't give him unnecessary ammunition.

Having dealt with many situations like this in the past I am sure he will be secretly relieved the horror of dealing with all this female stuff has been removed. I know it's not your responsibility but what are we aiming for here? A more pleasant environment or the business shut down? I would just be matter of fact about it and do it.

Alexis