H&S Knowledgable Types - Night Lone Working

[Silent1]

At my current job, i work 7pm - 7am alone with no supervision / cctv / security patrols, when i joined there were 2 of us working nights, after 3 months my colleague went back to days, as was planned.
Since then i have been working alone, whereas the other night shift have at least 2 people, throughout the industry no-one else works alone and they aren't allowed to.
This also means i'm unable to take any breaks as due to the unplanned nature of the job i can't leave my desk
Is this a legal thing or just a company policy?

The job is breakdown control. (Basically the AA for refrigeration systems on trailers etc.)

[M400 NBL]

I assume that it is possible for you to get injured. Bleeding to death or electric shock would not be the best thing that could happen if nobody can help you until 12 hours later.

I'd expect it to be illegal because of the nature of your job. Check www.acas.org.uk for the guidelines most employers go by.


Edit a typo

Edited by M400 NBL on Friday 18th January 07:56

[JamieBeeston]

OK, IANAL...

iirc, if you work in an office / environment with no other people around, then you're required to check in via phone every X hours to show you're not dead..

J

[edb49]

We used to have a single person on nights (now we have 2-3) and we had a security service where the person on nights had to phone in every hour, enter in a pin to an automated system. If they didn't do that they would get a call from the security company, and then if that wasn't answered there was an escalation path.

[M400 NBL]

Silent1 said:

At my current job, i work 7pm - 7am alone with no supervision / cctv / security patrols, when i joined there were 2 of us working nights, after 3 months my colleague went back to days, as was planned.
Since then i have been working alone, whereas the other night shift have at least 2 people, throughout the industry no-one else works alone and they aren't allowed to.
This also means i'm unable to take any breaks as due to the unplanned nature of the job i can't leave my desk
Is this a legal thing or just a company policy?

The job is breakdown control. (Basically the AA for refrigeration systems on trailers etc.)

I just re-read your first post. If you are taking calls from people needing attention to their refridgeration units, the advice given above whereby you need to call somebody every hour should be the minimum. If you don't there needs to be somebody that access to where you are just in case you require medical attention.

[Bibs_LEF]

edb49 said:

We used to have a single person on nights (now we have 2-3) and we had a security service where the person on nights had to phone in every hour, enter in a pin to an automated system. If they didn't do that they would get a call from the security company, and then if that wasn't answered there was an escalation path.

I'd love to know who the company you used were. My other half is an Estate Development Manager and they have lone night workers, this would be a terrific idea.

TIA

[sgrimshaw]

I believe I'm right in saying that by law you MUST take a break of at least 20mins if you work for more than 6 hrs.

You have the right to take this break away from the normal workplace.

Lots of good stuff here :

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/W...

[edb49]

Bibs_LEF said:

edb49 said:

We used to have a single person on nights (now we have 2-3) and we had a security service where the person on nights had to phone in every hour, enter in a pin to an automated system. If they didn't do that they would get a call from the security company, and then if that wasn't answered there was an escalation path.

I'd love to know who the company you used were. My other half is an Estate Development Manager and they have lone night workers, this would be a terrific idea.

TIA

All the usual security companies offer it - the big nationwide ones will give you a solid solution, if not the best/cheapest.

[bigburd]

At all of our call centres it is policy to have a minimum of 2 people working due to H&S. If one rings in sick then the other cannot go to work!

[taffyracer]

personally i think this is a load of bollox, H&S is taking over the world, the only reason in my view for there ever to be accompanied workers is if they are working in areas of possible harm, ie. you NEED a 2nd person to be present to ensure safety, sitting at a desk is NOT dangerous

Edited by taffyracer on Sunday 10th February 20:17

[JamieBeeston]

taffyracer said:

personally i think this is a load of bollox, H&S is taking over the world, the only reason in my view for there ever to be accompanied workers is if they are working in areas of possible harm, ie. you NEED a 2nd person to be present to ensure safety, sitting at a desk is NOT dangerous

Sheesh, you're joking right?

Papercuts are vicious!

[Silent1]

taffyracer said:

personally i think this is a load of bollox, H&S is taking over the world, the only reason in my view for there ever to be accompanied workers is if they are working in areas of possible harm, ie. you NEED a 2nd person to be present to ensure safety, sitting at a desk is NOT dangerous

Edited by taffyracer on Sunday 10th February 20:17

Indeed and i agree, but my current employer has taken the piss with everything for the past year or so, so now i'm just playing their game.

Things like, they claimed we only got 8 days holiday a year because we work 4 on 4 off, christmas was standard pay etc.
If they didn't take the piss, i wouldn't care as frankly it's more hassle that it's worth, i'd rather enjoy my job and get on with it than moan about stuff.

[taffyracer]

Then find another job, that's the answer, not looking for ways to catch your employer out and moaning about not having someone to hold your hand whilst sitting at a desk at night, it doesn't warrant any consideration under H&S legislation in my book and it piss*s me off that too many people are prepared to rely on the bullsh&t H&S legislation for their own personal gain, frankly I think it's disgraceful

[superlightr]

Sounds a good job to me. Put the phone on hold when you want a wee, go for lunch/dinner/whatever for the prescribed time. Have a telly/radio good book with you, laptop for games and PH. If they dont like it they will have to sack you.

Im being serious.

[M400 NBL]

taffyracer said:

Then find another job, that's the answer, not looking for ways to catch your employer out and moaning about not having someone to hold your hand whilst sitting at a desk at night, it doesn't warrant any consideration under H&S legislation in my book and it piss*s me off that too many people are prepared to rely on the bullsh&t H&S legislation for their own personal gain, frankly I think it's disgraceful

Sounds as though you have a cushy little number.

If his employer is sticking to the letter of the law, then it is perfectly acceptable for him to find out what he is entitled to.

Cops walk around in pairs because of H&S and I believe that because they are chatting (whilst looking down) they are not as observeat as they could be. H&S usually throws a spanner in the works.
It could be the same in the OP's case and I can understand why he wants to find out.

[taffyracer]

cops are slightly different though aren't theyt, they have a real danger angle which sitting in a call center does not have. I don't meant to be rude to the OP but serioulsy H&S is really starting to take over common sense and busineses are suffering, I work in the construction industry and see this sort of cr*p all day long, it's a case of cover your arse, no one actually takes it seriously and I don't believe for 1 minute that any of the recent legislation or practices being forced upon us has actually increased saftety standards, if it did I wouldn't be so against it but it's jobs for jobsoworths and we're paying for it