Job now refusing to let OH wash his hands!!!

[TiredHippo]

OK, so not totally refusing, but my OH started a new job about 2 months ago, his line of work is in Welding. From the start he was told that 10 minutes before break time employees were allowed to make their way to the wash stations to clean up before going on their break uninterrupted. Today he has come back and told me that the line manager has now said that all employees get 1 minute before their break is due to go and wash up. This line of work is very dirty and can take a good few minutes to scrub up to a reasonable level where you can eat with your hands, also the ten minutes is used to walk across the factory and wait for the facilities to become available as there can be up to 30 people going on break at the same time. His break is only 20 minutes long and most of that is now going to be spent making his way over to the wash station, waiting to use it and then going on what's left of his break. I've searched high and low but can't come up with anything concrete on the rules of using break time to wash up, as they've all been told they have to. If anyone has any ideas, I'd be very grateful.

There needs to be a staggered break. If your OH is new to the post, let him set that seed in the people who have been there the longest so they put it to the supervisor.

I think this is dreadful, and would be complaining/speaking to a union rep etc

BUT short term fix.... He should take food that doesn't require touching. I do this for my kids on days they have lunch clubs and won't get to wash their hands (appreciate it's not like welding though). Things with a fork, things with wrappers than can be held and binned.

Is he paid for his breaks? If he isn’t, but is washing during this time (which is work and not a break), he should be being paid. Upshot being, if he’s paid anywhere near minimum wage, he might not be compliant. No idea if this helps but it might be sufficient to persuade his employers to allow proper handwashing time

This should be raised with Health and Safety and union rep. Cleaning unsafe materials so you can eat safely on your break should be part of the working day, not the break itself. Perhaps they could install some clean up stations nearer where he works. And as PP have said, staggered breaks.