should employees be asked to work without running water for sanition?

Question

it seems like it must be against some sort of health and safety law to me!

they have water where I work- and a shower luckily, I'm just interested. And, like you say, very greatful that we haven't been too badly affected, we know many people who have been flooded so it's not a situation I take lightly AT ALL.

Rosie- our power station was the one in Gloucester that just got saved- thank you to everyone who worked on it! And our water treatment centre is the one in Tewkesbury. These services tend to supply more than the immediate area, thus a far greater area is affected than those which were flooded.

But I have to say- absolutely minor inconveniences in comparison to being flooded

Answer 1

Health and safety laws require water for employees ....

We had a water problem at my place of work last year due to a broken water pipe and health and safety rules stated we should close down ..

However a certain supermarket chain decided they could not risk it and completely ignored the guidelines ..

Shocking as we had to flush the loo with bottled water and the staff cooking food had to wash their hands and untensils in cold water .....

Answer 2

Health and safety at work as well as environmental issues.

If you have no adequate toilet facilities, you have the right to refuse to work under those conditions until the toilet / rest room facilities are put in good working order.

Failure for an employer to comply is not only illegal but also a serious health risk from some very nasty illnesses that you can contract from the contaminated areas.

Answer 3

I would have thought that anyone living in an area with no water supply would not be able to get to work anyway, as it's the flooded areas that are affected mostly.

Answer 4

in usual circumstances - no
it is specifically captured under the source regulations

for g*ds sake dont go quoting Management Regs or Health & Safety Act - these do not specifically cover it and you will look like a fool !!!

however if you are caught up in the floods these may be classed as special circumstances
your employer should still be making every effort for you to have safe [and not detrimental to your health] sanitary conveniences
best thing to do is ring for advice [dependant on your business] - you may come under the local council authority or the HSE

Answer 5

It depends on what type of work you do, and what provisions they have made to replace the running water. If you have been supplied with sanitizer instead then it's not an issue.

Answer 6

Your just after a day off.........think about the people whose life's have been destroyed by the floods. A few days without running water at work is not going to kill you.

Answer 7

I doubt zoning would permit such a business to remain open if anyone reported them

Answer 8

It's not fair. No flushing toilets, no where to wash my hands? No facility for drinks? Ha wouldn't work there thank you.

Answer 9

But I hear that employers are telling their employees that if they don't come to work, the time off will be treated as holidays.
How mad is that?

Answer 10

Hmmm if you are in the UK, particularly in the Midlands region at the moment, I think maybe there are some special circumstances in place.

Otherwise, no way.