Posted By HarveyJ We have provided suitable and sufficient rest facilities for employees to eat in the form of a staff canteen, with heavily subsidised catering contractor. We still have employees eating on the shop floor, where hazardous substances are used. My opinion is to prohibit and enforce that no food is eaten on the shop floor, at all. Comments that have come back, the same must be applied for VDU users (office staff), which is just as unhygienic albeit no hazardous substances used. Anyone got any practical advice on how to achieve a modicum. Thanks

Posted By frank.sobande I presume you've carried out a joint risk assessment with the shopfloor workers or their representative? If so, one of your control measures should be the provision of sufficient and adequate canteen facilities. So, no if's and buts! You must recommend this on the basis that it would eliminate the risk of contermination of food with chemicals and reduce the risk of poisoning or even worse death!

Posted By Andy Brazier You have to ask why they want to eat on the shop floor. Do they feel the need to monitor their work, and if they leave the area something could go wrong? Are they allowed to eat their own food in the staff canteen, and if not is there somewhere else they can go? You do have to stop them eating where hazardous substances are present, but you do first need to understand why it is happening.

Posted By graeme12345 whats "SIGNIFICANT" risk is there in eating a bar of chocolate or a sandwich they are not using the haz. Sub's anyway. Exactly what are the hazardous substances, are these employees in contact with them while eating, are they using the hazards, or are they just stored ready for use If they are leaving rubbish behind it's a different matter. Again more arrows for the "conkers bonkers" brigade. I can just imagine it now, employee talking to his mates, "do you know what, H & S banned food at our firm today" b----- H & S that's all there good for!. Safety bods on the other hand think I'm really looking after my company's employees health, put another feather in our cap

Posted By Crim I recently carried out a fire risk assessment (beside the point) in a facility that provided a fantastic welfare room including sky TV, all modern facilities for eating and preparing meals. Really clean and comfortable. They had no problem with staff eating at the desks.