Stephen Hutton's newest comments

Hi,

We are looking at relocating premises this year. A question I have is regarding the cleaning contract . We have a 6 cleaners from a 3rd party company that come in on a daily basis however when we relocate there is already a contract in place within a manged building that looks after the cleaning of all the offices that are occupied over 3 buildings. Does TUPE law and regulations apply here? I would be very happy for the current cleaners to relocate as well but the company that they work for do not have any contract in the new building.
Any advice is appreciated.

Regards

Stephen

Thanks Julian, YOu do bring up a valid point. Theraputic balls or the kneeling chairs do not conform to regs however if you were to allow them to be used within the office on presentation of a Dr's letter and an accident occurs at work where would insurance companies stand - the side of the law or the individual who has presented a letter stating that a kneeling chair would assist with posturtal issues - or you prevent them from using it and by using a normal task chair aggravates the issue!!!

Has anyone ever come across staff wishing to use the theraputic balls that are recommended by physios to assist with posture?
Whilst I understand that they are not suitable for use in the office due to stability issues for one and all other issues surrounding height adjustability, back support etc.. if someone was to admit that they use it whilst working from home where would liability fall? I think I know but would be greatful for any advice.

Nicola,

We use a company called Office Green that uplift and recycle, at no cost to us, and they take all toners shapes and sizes - any make etc!!.

They can be found at http://www.officegreen.co.uk/

Hope this helps

Stephen

No payment is made for either a fire warden or fist aider in my present comapny. I have previously known first aiders receive a small token at Christmas but not fire wardens!!

Neither have raised any issues within my present role.

Many thanks for the comments - just to clarify that we have 250 employees in the buiilding (low risk office )with 6 fully qulaified first aiders. We do not work shifts just have the majority of staff working between 8.00 am - 6.00 pm.

Julian - I am waiting for the member of staff to return to work to discuss this however reagrding the awareness course there has been mixed response on whether a non-first aid trained person should get involved.

Dear All,

I am looking for some advice on the followoing:
We have a member of staff who sufferes from epilespsy and recently had a siezure whilst in the office. We had a first aider in the location who responded quickly to assist the member of staff.

As the siezure took place in an open plan office other members of staff were quite taken aback as they had not seen a siezure before and then when the member of staff came round there was confusion from the rest of the staff as to what they should do - if anything as the first aider was on site.

The question I have is - if the first aider was not in the room at the time there could have been a lot of confusion as to what to do! I know that there are courses available on Epilepsy Awareness and what to do, however I am unsure as to whether I should ask that staff undertake this course. As epilepsy comes under DDA is there any issues here that I should be aware of?

Any advice woudl be greatly appreciated.

Stephen

Hi,

I agree with Kevin on this and others that say a full sweep of the building using wardens should ensure that the buisling is clear and then they report to the Facilities Manager who is waiting for the FB.

We have thought about printing off a list using the security system as all staff should use the card to access the building however that does not allow for tailgating and staff do not need to "swipe" to get out so you cant accurately say who is in the building.

Stephen

I am both for and agianst a radio at work, it does help relax at times but as others mentioned it depends on musical tastes.

On the other issue running in the tread I have recently had a discussion with the PRS about licences - they have indicated, like others in the thread, that both radio and TV require a PRS licence if it is at work - private homes do not require the licence. The amount it will cost you does depend on the number of staff that could possibly listen. I mentioned that we have a TV licence and therfore did not understand why another licence would be required. Their reply was that the music accompanying programs (Eastenders theme tune was the example) was copyrighted and therefore royalties were due!!!! hence the need for a licence.

As for the radio even if a room had only 4 staff (no public access) there is still a possibilty that others could come in and hear and therefore again a licence was required. Where does it end?

As Jim mentioned the Evoluent Vertical Mouse and also the Grip mouse, both availale at Posturite.

So does this mean that if there is a TV in a canteen area and this is showing the music channel on Freeview then we would have to have a license in addition to a TV license. If the channel was changed to show regular tv what happens?

Many thanks Nigel.

Hi,
We are going through a process of installing wireless access throughout the office using plug in boxes and the appropriate cabling.
The question I have has been raised after all the discussions relating to mobile phone masts.

Is there any advice or anyone knows of any restrictions in place for the proximity of the wireless access points and employees. The model we will be using is similar to ones for home use.

Many thanks

Stephen

Working north of the border we have, as you know been living and working under the new legislation for the past year. I must tell you of an incident that has happened on more than one occasion.

Driving into work the other day I past a police van- Crimstoppers on the side, and was impressed to see that they had signage regarding the fact that it was a company vehicle and smoking was prohibited. Meanwhile the driver and passenger, one in plain clothes and one in police uniform, were smoking and were oblivious to the sign. Then when finished the window was wound down and the butt thrown out.

What chance do the public have of understanding and implementing changes to the law if the ones who are meant to enforce do not abide?

Apologies email was incorrect it should read: stephen.hutton@woodmac.com

Many thanks

Likewise I have been asked for a policy but not as part of the tendering process but in general.

I can be reached on: stephen.hutton@oodmac.com

Regardless of what people think about shelters you will not please everyone.
We had previously supplied a shelter for smokers but it does not conform with the present legislation. So although it rarely gets used because in the words of one person who smokes "it smells"!! I have had to act to show that we are doing what is required.
Anyway the door has since been removed which has now resulted in comments that are along the lines of " we have nothing to protect us from the weather"

Can't win!!!

Living and working in Edinburgh I hear and will coninue to hear both sides of teh arguement. I don't believe that anyones rights have been infringed- you are still allowed to smoke just not inside!!! They banned smoking on the London Underground, buses - no-one seemed to mind so why now!!!

ver the last few weeks and since the ban has come into effect I have heard more people say that they will attempt to give up the habit and only once seen anyone pushing the boundaries of the new law and he was carried away- literally for other reasons than just smoking in a pub. It was 2.30 though!!

What happens when you phone them back because they have called 3 times a day for a number of weeks without leaving any mesaage and you get the message" the person on the other end has hung up"

I would be grateful if I could get a set of the assessment sheets as well.

stephen.hutton@woodmac.com

Many thanks