To challenge something at work?

[iooppssk]

NC and won’t specify what I’ve challenged, it’s outing if anyone from work should read it.

Previously been told no-can-do when I’ve raised a safety concern. It’s not an urgent concern but think, the current shortcoming places others / myself liable in the future should anything go wrong.

It’s a simple fix but will come at a small financial cost to the organisation and I presume that is why nothing is being done. I periodically raise the issue with my manager as think it needs to be addressed. They now seem to be annoyed and have told me I need to accept the final decision, and I get the sense I have wound them up.

Will I be badly thought of if I go to my union about this?

As I say, nobody currently at risk but really not following best practice and opens up risk for future incidents, I don’t really want to be responsible for that.

Head down or continue to challenge? Is it wrong to challenge something professionally and politely?

Are they breaking any laws? Would changing practice affect things?

No laws being broken as such, no. Changing practice would basically just give everybody else better protection in the workplace.

Of course you’ll be badly thought of. However you can’t leave yourself liable if anything did happen. Would you personally be liable to criminal prosecution?

You said it was a matter of best practice. Does the company have a risk assessment which shows their current measures have reduced the risk to an acceptable level? This plus your written requests for improvements/upgrades will significantly reduce your personal liability.

I’m not sure, unlikely but not impossible that it would get that far for me personally because of my experience and knowledge of the job but they could recruit new employees who could find themselves in very hot water.

Maybe I should just keep hold of my requests for change, so that if anything comes back on anyone I can evidence I tried

Write an arse-covering memo (email).

I wish to bring X to your attention and make you aware that these bad consequences may ensue. I hope that you will rectify this blah blah.

The sort of thing you pull out at the ensuring court case.

Could someone potentially be injured? Or worse? Do they consider the current safeguards adequate, or are there none at all?

Yes and yes. They think it’s fine but other organisations I’ve worked for previously would not have thought it to be fine, at all.

This is a good idea. Share concerns to union or not bother?