No running water or toilets in office.

davo2001

Hi,

Working in an office, the water has been shut off due to maintance issues, management informs us it will be back "in a few days".

Some of the workers are saying we should not be in work if no water or toilets, personally I don't mind but do they have a point?

The high horse brigade

davo2001 wrote: »

Hi,

Working in an office, the water has been shut off due to maintance issues, management informs us it will be back "in a few days".

Some of the workers are saying we should not be in work if no water or toilets, personally I don't mind but do they have a point?

No access to toilets is a serious health and safety issue

griffin100

There are minimum workplace welfare requirements set out in the Workplace General Applivatuon Regulations. Access to drinking water and toilets would be a mandatory workplace requirement for an office.

alroley

Surely people need to be able to go to the toilet during the day?!

listermint

Yes that's a big no no.

Oink

No water or toilet in the office, ok, so what do they suggest you do if you need the toilets?

OMM 0000

Is there really no toilet nearby you can all use?

Jimbob1977

A bucket and some straw

_Brian

The employer is responsible to ensure suitable alternative facilities are in place and employees informed.

“Cross your legs for a few days” isn’t sufficient and I wouldn’t accept that.

Heart Break Kid

Its a health and safety issue but also a dignity at workplace issue.

https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/General_Application_Regulations/gen_apps_workplace.pdf

Babooshka

davo2001 wrote: »

Hi,

Working in an office, the water has been shut off due to maintance issues, management informs us it will be back "in a few days".

Some of the workers are saying we should not be in work if no water or toilets, personally I don't mind but do they have a point?

Health and safety regs....office closes for health and safety grounds and people are allowed to either work from home or else go on safety leave until the issue is rectified, not your fault, and I'd be leaving until they were back if I was you. First email HR or whoever is in charge of employees, and ask them what actions they have taken about this issue and if they know that no toilets or running water means they would be in breach of Irish H&S regulations if they remain open during the period, get something in writing. You shouldn't be left wondering what is going on you should have received written notification of it being gone and what suitable and acceptable alternatives they had in place in the meantime.

dragonfly!

This happened us a few times this year due to bad weather events and issues with the landlord.
We had to use a neighboring offices toilets
There was nothing done about the no running water
I asked our health and safety officer who said as there is access to the bathroom water in the neighbouring office they do not need to provide anything else for us.
I was not allowed work from home and so I brought in bottled water for drinking / making tea and hand sanitiser.
I also made a point of not doing the office washing up when the water did come back

runawaybishop

dragonfly! wrote: »

This happened us a few times this year due to bad weather events and issues with the landlord.
We had to use a neighboring offices toilets
There was nothing done about the no running water
I asked our health and safety officer who said as there is access to the bathroom water in the neighbouring office they do not need to provide anything else for us.
I was not allowed work from home and so I brought in bottled water for drinking / making tea and hand sanitiser.
I also made a point of not doing the office washing up when the water did come back

Your h+s officer was wrong. Running water is a requirement.

notharrypotter

runawaybishop wrote: »

Your h+s officer was wrong. Running water is a requirement.

Link?

runawaybishop

notharrypotter wrote: »

Link?

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1995/si/358/made/en/print

Sanitary and washing facilities.

20. An employer shall provide and maintain and keep in a clean state—

(a) adequate and suitable sanitary and washing facilities for the use of employees,

(b) an adequate number of lavatories and washbasins, with hot and cold running water in the vicinity of workstations, rest rooms, changing rooms and rooms housing showers,

Also the water provided for drinking must be potable.

notharrypotter

runawaybishop wrote: »

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1995/si/358/made/en/print

Sanitary and washing facilities.

20. An employer shall provide and maintain and keep in a clean state—

(a) adequate and suitable sanitary and washing facilities for the use of employees,

(b) an adequate number of lavatories and washbasins, with hot and cold running water in the vicinity of workstations, rest rooms, changing rooms and rooms housing showers,

Also the water provided for drinking must be potable.

Curious.
So if an employer brings in bottled water the last point is covered?


And,
If there are facilities in the adjoining office block are they covered?


Finally for someone working in a shop In a shop in a shopping centre does each unit need the above facilities?

runawaybishop

notharrypotter wrote: »

Curious.
So if an employer brings in bottled water the last point is covered?


And,
If there are facilities in the adjoining office block are they covered?


Finally for someone working in a shop In a shop in a shopping centre does each unit need the above facilities?

Bottled water is fine to drink, using shared facilities is fine also. The facilities have to be reasonable though, they can't be miles away or 1 toilet for 100 people.