Health & Safety at work - not enough?

mehfesto

Hello all,

I'm a worker at a large retailer who has over 20 shops in the country. I work as a sales assistant, but am frequently asked to go out to storage and do some work there. In the past few weeks I have noticed some strain in my back and the week before last, I was certified as sick from my doctor due to acute back pain.

I don't feel my work has done enough (I have pointed out my concerns to the manager and supervisors several times). I have been fobbed off or fed lines which I find incredulous. I was wondering if someone could tell me if I am entitled to better.

Here is a list of what I feel needs to be rectified.

1. No manual handling training. I was told this would have to come at a personal expense to me. I agreed, but they said I'd need more numbers of staff to agree before they brought someone in. Nothing has happened since.

2. I have to carry large boxes, weighing anywhere from about 20-30 kilos from storage to the shop floor. The doors are only openable by pulling from the outside, meaning, I have to either place the box on the floor, open the door and stretch to grab the box, using my body to prevent it closing, or try open the door with my feet. I have asked for magnets or hooks like the shops beside us have, but was told that this breaches shop safety policies. Similarly I had the door stops I brought to work taken off me. These doors are never closed (hence being able to pry them open with your feet, with some effort), so I cannot see how this is the issue.
-This was the main reason my back became injured, I feel.

3. We have no Health & Safety officer. I thought this was a legal requirement?

4. We have none of our own equipment. The equipment we use to move our boxes has been stolen from the nearby chemist or greengrocers. They are not exactly fit for the purpose and I have no idea how to use some of the low wheeled box-trolleys properly.

In summary, given the above what can I do? I am not a member of a union at present, but can I just refuse to carry any more boxes until these issues are rectified?
I don't want to 'blacklist' myself by taking legal action, either, so I just want to know what I can do to make this job more bearable.

While I may be leaving in the coming months, I feel that if I don't do anything, the person who gets the job after me will be left with the same issue. Looking forward to hearing some advice!

M

MagicSean

http://www.hsa.ie/eng/

Brendini

It is the law that all employees get Manual Handling training,your employer must pay for this training,each employer has a duty of care for all employees and contractors working on all sites under the Health& Safety at Work Act 2005.

You will find the detail on www.hsa.ie.

Brendini

Your place of work is in urgent need of a risk assessment and correct H&S controls put in place in all stores,it sounds like an accident waiting to happen,the fact you have to lift these boxes with such a wgt and then fight with the doors to get to your final destination in my opinion how there has not been an accident is luck.I bet the insurance company would love to understand the risk they have signed up to!

Brendini

You are within your rights to refuse to carry out a work instruction on the grounds of the unsafe work processes in this job.Unless they give you the correct equipment.

mehfesto

Thanks Brendini.
I'll keep posted on updates if/when they arise!