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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To make the electrician take his shoes off?

77 replies

CheezePlant · 22/08/2019 22:37

Got an electrician coming round tomorrow to fit some lights in our kitchen. We have a crawling baby and I want to ask the electrician to take his shoes off. DH says I'm nuts...

AIBU or is he? Would you make a workman take their shoes off in your house?

OP posts:

fblake · 22/08/2019 22:41

Yes I would ask. Especially as i have a crawling baby too so completely understand where you're coming from.

Heartbrokengirl14 · 22/08/2019 22:43

Due to health and safety I don’t think they are allowed to.

mollibu · 22/08/2019 22:47

Completely different area of work, but I work as a Carer for the elderly. And we're always told never to take our shoes off in someone's home due to health and safety.

Maybe provide shoe covers? You know the little blue things. Ask him to pop them on - that's what we use if the home owner doesn't allow shoes inside hth.

AllBellsNoWhistles · 22/08/2019 22:47

No. For their own safety I would never ask a workman to take anything off.
A lot of what they wear is PPE and to not wear it is detrimental to their safety and well-being.
Just keep your baby out of the room he is working in. You and your baby don't need to be in there while he is working anyway.

dementedpixie · 22/08/2019 22:47

Maybe he will have shoe covers. Is it carpet or hard floor?

MrsTishellsNeckBrace · 22/08/2019 22:49

Shoe covers.

aewwwenxt · 22/08/2019 22:49

In nurseries policy used to be outdoor shoes were taken off before entering the room so you wouldn't be totally unreasonable to ask them to take their shoes off.
However if he has relatively clean shoes I wouldn't ask. I figure a little bit of dry mud can be hoovered up after they leave and I'd be keeping a crawling baby in a separate room anyway so you could just keep baby away until you've hoovered if you did decide to not ask.

Raphael34 · 22/08/2019 22:53

Is this really an issue?

Snugglepumpkin · 22/08/2019 22:54

You are being VERY UNREASONABLE.

First off any workman who would break good working practice by working in his socks is not a workman I'd trust to fit electrics in my house (same goes for any trade)

Second, I doubt he would consent to work with a baby crawling round underneath him.

He's probably going to use a step ladder or hop up if he's working at ceiling height & it's easy to drop stuff.

Plus, he needs to bring TOOLS in the house - almost certainly in a bag which has touched the floor a million times.
He will have to put it down somewhere to use the things.

If your concern is a bit of grub that MIGHT be on the bottom of his shoes or tool bag, then clean the bloody floor after he's gone.

poolblack · 22/08/2019 22:56

What's the issue with shoes and crawling babies?

NerrSnerr · 22/08/2019 22:56

If you're worried that his shoes are dirty can't you hoover after he has left? Would you let your child crawl at the park, garden or on the beach? If so I don't see the difference in letting them crawl on carpets that have had shoes on them.

I have two small children and this has never crossed my mind (and they are (and we're) healthy)

5zeds · 22/08/2019 22:57

Buy some bathhats from the supermarket. Ask him to put them over his shoes. Keep them in the car to cover your pushchair wheels.

Sparklingbrook · 22/08/2019 22:59

Unless he has been hiking through mud or something then I wouldn't ask.

MiniMum97 · 22/08/2019 23:02

If he's actually working then it would be unsafe for him not to wear shoes. Agree with others about shoe covers but be aware there will be dust on the floor from the work anyway.

TidyDancer · 22/08/2019 23:04

YABU imo. It's a tad excessive even in a shoes off household.

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 22/08/2019 23:04

Don’t be so ridiculous OP it’s a health and safety issue, tradespeople wear shoes and more than likely, safety boots for a reason, to protect themselves from injury.

Wolfiefan · 22/08/2019 23:05

No way. Clean the floor once he’s left. DH is right.

PumpkinP · 22/08/2019 23:05

Yabu

SirJamesTalbotAndHisSpeculum · 22/08/2019 23:06

Oh, definitely don't let him keep his shoes on. (Sigh.)

I bet you're the sort of person who doesn't let tradespeople use the toilet, either.

Or drink out of your cups.

catinboots99 · 22/08/2019 23:07

God on all my years on MN. I've heard it all now.

50shadesofblackclothing · 22/08/2019 23:07

If he's wearing safety boots and working in your home with tools yabvu. If he turns up in flip flops and asks for loan of your screwdriver yanbu.

user1471582494 · 22/08/2019 23:09

I agree with others, boots are part of his PPE. You would be ridiculous to 'make' him take them off.
He may just refuse to work for you.

BackforGood · 22/08/2019 23:11

Of course YABVVVVU

Either provide the man with shoe covers, or put dust sheets down.

You can't expect people to start getting undressed when they are at their workplace, even if it weren't for the safety implications.

Schwibble · 22/08/2019 23:12

Can't baby stay in a different room or area of the house while the electrician is there? And you can still hoover after he's gone.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/08/2019 23:12

It would be very unreasonable - as other posters have pointed out, workmen need to wear the proper protective gear, and that includes their footwear.

Asking him to wear shoe covers would be fine.

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