bad toilet facilities

James Fairchild
Member - 257 posts

Are you in a union? I certainly wouldn't be prepared to do what is being suggested!

David Price
Member - 80 posts

We are not living in the dark ages here are we?

Are your toilets not fed from a water tank? If so there should be enough water in the tank to keep your toilets running without any problems for at least a day.

It is not suitable to expect people to was their hands using the methods you discribe as hot water should be availble for that very reason. It would be interesting to know how just how your boss has worked out many buckets of water he might need to compensate whilst the water is turned off?

If your water supply is direct from the mains supply, then your water supply will indeed stop as soon as the water company shuts its valve, assuming that they have provided you with enough notice a suitable plan should and could be put in place by everyone concerned. What would happen in an emergency if for some unforeseen reason the water main was damaged for a much longer period, and you boos didn't have time to fill his buckets?

Although this is not a disaster, it is the sort of thing that a company should always take into account, as we do not have control over the utilties such as Gas, Water, Electricty, yet we are lost without them when they are not there.

This soulds like a usual brillant idea from a boss who will probably work from home on the days concerned so he won't be carrying his bucket too far when he needs the loo, on the seroius side there are Manual Handling issues as to "How big the buckets are?" "How heavy will they be?" "How will the said buckets get refilled if there is no water?"

It would appear that your boss is not thinking beyond his own needs, if there is still time try and sort out a proper arrangement, just in case this should happen again in the future,

Diane Roberts
Member - 4 posts

We have just had exactly this situation occur at our workplace, except that it happened without warning due to a burst main elsewhere in town. We had no idea or indication of how long it would last, and our H&S man got on the case immediately at my request to find out how long it would be before everyone had to go home. Our toilets are fed directly from the mains as we do not have a tank.

Regulations stipulate that toilet facilities MUST be provided for staff, but don't indicate in what form. The remotest suggestion here that staff go home was met with uproar, but luckily it only lasted an hour or so before the water was back on.

As you have plenty of warning, is there anything to prevent you from hiring in a couple of portaloos? It would be unreasonable, and unrealistic, to expect staff to refill the cisterns, especially if it would mean a considerable trek to obtain water, and lots of stair climbing. Like David says, there are Manual Handling Issues, and also an H&S issue of spillages.

If building sites manage, I'm sure a loss of supply for only 4-6 hours can be handled. As for washing facilities, bottled water is adequate (if you want hot, boil it!) and you can always get some of the alcohol solution they use in hospitals.

mark Coleman
Member - 1 post

The waterboard or their contractors for the work should be able to offer you a temporary supply whilst the main supply is cut off.
We recently had the same problem when drains were being replaced and were told that we would be without supply for th eday.
I contacted the contractor and they advised that they would be able to provide a temporary supply until the works were completed.
It would be worth you contacting them to see if they can provide for you.
Other then that if you do have water tankson site they should keep you going for between 2-4 hours.