Staff not wearing PPE and disobeying orders

Capra

I have a two manual labour crew. They are two brothers from Eastern Europe and have been with us for many years. They are excellent reliable workers who do their jobs to a high standard but they are limited in that they have little initiative, have never learned English well enough to deal with customers and have to be managed. They worked for my father for a long time and now I'm managing them having moved from a different side of the business. In the past few years they have become very stubborn. Any time they make mistakes they won't take responsibility and try to blame everyone else. They also don't like doing what the customer wants when they ask to make changes and can be very rude. They have also made it difficult for us to get other staff to join the crew as they seem to view everyone else as a threat and push anyone new into a "helper" role. I think they resent me as I haven't done their job so they don't like taking orders from me. When they worked for my father it was he who trained them so it was much easier for him to tell them that they are doing something wrong than me. Don't get me wrong, I can do their job but just not as proficiently as they can. I have seen them taking some shortcuts which I don't like as we are known for the superior quality of our work. I have been making the effort to actually work with them on site to ensure I know exactly how they work lately. It will also let them know that they aren't as indispensable as they believe they are. However I'm thinking maybe I should just stay at a distance as they probably are always going to think they know better than me?

Recently we have moved towards portraying a more professional image as we want to expand in the future. Part of this is wearing all the correct PPE at all times. Every second job I have to tell them about it and I'm getting sick of it. The PPE is important as they work with a lot of equipment and I know guys who have lost sight doing their job.

I'm wondering how to handle it as they are good workers doing a job that many people won't do. However, their attitude is pissing me off. I know the second I say it that I will get an attitude off them. I've already said it multiple times. They work long hours but have a lot of flexibility in their job, we give them time off when they ask for it and they also get a month off in summer and winter. I want to nip this in the bud because I think they will begin to walk on me if I don't lay down some authority.

fritzelly

If PPE is required for the job and they won't wear it then initiate disciplinary procedures
If something happens and it could have prevented then it will come down hard on you.

Blondie919

You definitely need to show your authority. They need to be shown disciplinary consequences for disobeying orders. Put in writing the "rules" or practices to be done during a shift and get them to read and sign it. You do need to show them that consequences will occur and follow through on them. If you don;t then they will walk all over you.

Tell me how

I doubt you have one already, but an employee handbook might be necessary.

In it you outline not only information relating to the PPE but how disciplinary actions will be handled as well as other information. Doesn't really matter what the process is, as long as you follow it in case of needing to .

Might be necessary to have it in their native language as well as english to be sure they understand what they are reading. Can be a bit of a minefield but a HR firm could give you a template and guidance for fairly reasonable money.

I know, I know, nothing is for free, but, it would be cheaper than dealing with the HSA.

Victor

1. Provide the necessary equipment. Do an inventory from time to time.

2. Incentivise good behaviour. I heard of one site where people were occasionally given 'lottery tickets' if they were compliant with H&S. They could win things like a free lunch in the site canteen, an hour off, etc. You can give staff gifts of up to €500 tax-free in a year.

3. Once 1 & 2 are in place, reprimand for bad behavior. Escalate if necessary.

Mrs OBumble

Invest in some advice from a HR consultant about what you need to put in place for the company to grow, and how to deal with change-resistors in your existing workforce.

stoneill

Just sack them for not following your instructions.

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Blondie919 wrote: »

You definitely need to show your authority. They need to be shown disciplinary consequences for disobeying orders. Put in writing the "rules" or practices to be done during a shift and get them to read and sign it. You do need to show them that consequences will occur and follow through on them. If you don;t then they will walk all over you.

Get it translated into their language so they can't claim they didn't understand.

Meathman12

What isyour safety management system like in general?
Could you involve them in preparing work method statements, risk assessments etc?
What PPE do they refuse to wear? Is it a comfort/fit issue or maybe compatibility issues with other PPE eg googles not fitting with respireatory protection equipment.

Strumms

Firstly....What sort of a company employs people who do not speak English into a role where they need to communicate with customers, colleagues and management whose first language IS English...that’s a recipe for disaster, for YOU.

Secondly, issue them with a written document (in English) re advising the requirement for proper ppe, when it must be worn and the consequences of them not wearing it (disciplinary action etc...)... have them sign it and return it to you signed.... any failure to wear ppe... begin a formal process...

If the rules are not followed by every employee it encourages others not to wear it. Encourages serious injury or worse which YOU will be responsible for.