Back to work, don't feel safe, risk assessment

[Back2WorkForMe]

We have been working from home and going into the office on a rota basis, so only minimal people in the office at one time so we are able to social distance.

Anyway, manager has said we are all back in next week. When we are all in there are 15 people packed into our office. We are squashed and there is no way a safe distance between us. We are facing each other. If who I am facing coughs or sneezes it will be on to me.

What can I do about this, I don't feel safe but don't want to make a big fuss about it any advice?

[PseudoBadger]

If you're public sector please do contact the hse. They have put a lot of money into their call centre to help with queries. However, as a public sector employee, I would be surprised if there is no risk assessment done. But it's key findings and controls must be communicated to you as an employee.

[PseudoBadger]

*its

[Uhoh2020]

Can you get a perspect cover to go round your desk (like they have in supermarket tills) I have seen lots of businesses on SM offering to make them you might find someone close to you making them. Not that you should have to do these things yourself of course! Your employer should be putting things like that in place, but if they won't, take matters into your own hands.

[Brieandcheddar]

Packed lunch

[happytoday73]

There is specific guidance for offices they should have gone through as part of risk assessment.... www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/offices-and-contact-centres

This is what they should display.... Once completed... Someone needs to sign it...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb97d30d3bf7f5d364bfbb6/staying-covid-19-secure.pdf

[CatandtheFiddle]

How come the advice for this person is so different to the response teachers get?

An excellent question.

OP could you and all your colleagues wear masks? mask won't protect you from others' droplets, but it will protect others fom yours. If you all wear them, the you are all protecting each other.

I tend to think the only way we'll get through this with reasonable civility is for each of us to act as though we could infect others (even though we know we are virus-free).

And then take responsibility for not infecting others by wearing a mask, and being respectful of others' space.

But your employers sound well dodgy.

[happytoday73]

People not going to work when potentially sick/exposed, social distancing and good hygiene/cleanliness are the key themes...for all work environments

having worn PPE all day I find RPE especially uncomfortable, especially in lovely weather, it also fails to danger and is therefore the bottom of the hierarchy of control. Its not an option I'd pick lightly.
Eating lunch and having a drink are somewhat challenging...

Reducing the numbers in the office, like reducing numbers in a classroom is a simple step to help social distancing.. . But both work environments have detailed guidance to follow.

[BeltaneBride]

If you want to be 'safe' then d9n't get out of bed in the morning. But equally do not expect to be paid. Everyone else is getting on with real life, and life has never been 'safe'.

[PseudoBadger]

I suppose all you sneering people think Workplace health and safety is for wimps? COVID is a hazard like any other in the workplace and must be risk assessed and controlled so far as is reasonably practicable. This isn't a race to the bottom - just because you and/or your employer don't care doesn't mean everyone else should be let down.

[BeltaneBride]

I work in the public sector and no way are we going back into the office anytime soon

Says it all. Meanwhile the private escort gets back to work to pay taxes to keep the public sector 'safe' at home.
Off to the beach, are you?

[imwatchinyou]

@BeltaneBride get to work you sour lemon.

[Moondust001]

@BeltaneBride

I work in the public sector and no way are we going back into the office anytime soon

Says it all. Meanwhile the private escort gets back to work to pay taxes to keep the public sector 'safe' at home.
Off to the beach, are you?

I work in the public sector, and like all my colleagues I have been working full-time and continue to do so, paying my taxes, so you lot in the private sector can sit at home and get paid for nothing.

Nice to know that those of us in all sectors who carried on working to get the country through this and out the other side are no longer being "clapped" for. Situation normal, the public sector are lazy. Good to know.

[BarbaraofSeville]

Is everyone forgetting that the advice is that if you can work from home, you should do this.

If the OPs office have been successfully working from home for the last 2/3 months, they should continue doing so. What the bosses 'want' may not be in line with the law.

If they want people in the office they need to consider that some people may need to get there by public transport, and there simply isn't the capacity to use this safely, and someone who could work from home using public transport could be taking the space needed by a key worker, who can't WFH.

Even if the OP does unusual office work that can't be done from home, they shouldn't all be back every day and they need to meet social distancing requirements in offices and any shared facilities like toilets, break rooms and corridors.

They may need to rearrange the office, use screens etc, but that's only if they can't WFH. Note that this is working, not dossing or going to the beach .

Masks are unlikely to be appropriate for an office environment and even if they were, they would need to be changed several times a day and staff trained to use and dispose of them properly, so that they remain effective.

[DanielleHirondelle]

@BeltaneBride Just because people may not be IN the office doesn't mean they aren't working!

A responsible employer would do the risk assessment, take note of the results, consider the controls they can put in place, and communicate it to their staff. If they cannot put appropriate controls in place, they have to consider this, not just ignore it. For example, if it is not possible to social distance in an office they could review who prefers to be in the office and who is happy to continue to work from home (as everyone's circumstances are different) and prioritising those who may be desperate to get back, continuing with rotas, etc.

Your employer has to do the risk assessment but I also believe that employees should also raise concerns where they have them, ideally with the employer but if necessary with the relevant public authority.

[DanielleHirondelle]

I suppose all you sneering people think Workplace health and safety is for wimps? COVID is a hazard like any other in the workplace and must be risk assessed and controlled so far as is reasonably practicable. This isn't a race to the bottom - just because you and/or your employer don't care doesn't mean everyone else should be let down.

This!

[Pacmanitee]

If OP and the team have been going into the office for a day a week then it suggests that there are some things that cannot be done at home, so it doesn't seem wholly unreasonable. They should have a risk assessment though, ask for it. Or did you want one of us to try and find out for you?

[DanielleHirondelle]

Isn't the current guidance that if you can WFH you should continue to do so?

[dottiedodah]

I think this is unaccepatable TBH .Maybe ask to look at their risk assessment ? can you continue to work from home ? Seems rather strange to me

[imwatchinyou]

If you can work from home then the advice it that you should continue to do so. If not, and you feel it is not safe in the workplace, I would raise concerns with line manager and take it from there.

@Pacmanitee op asked for advice, how would they expect 'us' to do it

[Mummypig2020]

Husband has worked all this time as a signaller, 10 people in an dark room with no ventilation. All have been ok.

[EnlightenedOwl]

@BeltaneBride

If you want to be 'safe' then d9n't get out of bed in the morning. But equally do not expect to be paid. Everyone else is getting on with real life, and life has never been 'safe'.

Well said. 👏

[Back2WorkForMe]

I absolutely want to go back to work, but only when it is safe. I am a key worker, my DC have got a place at school, but as I have been WFH they have been at home with me - It would be much easier for me to work in the workplace and not from home and take dc to school.

[Back2WorkForMe]

BeltaneBride
If you want to be 'safe' then d9n't get out of bed in the morning. But equally do not expect to be paid. Everyone else is getting on with real life, and life has never been 'safe'.


We are in the middle of a pandemic, we have been in lockdown; everyone else isn't "getting on with real life" and if you are then you have not been following the rules.

[WhatsHappeningCaroleBaskin]

Also public sector, I'd be surprised if we're back to the office before the end of the year - certainly not full time. Although we work flexibly anyway.

They've opened one of our offices for 15% occupancy for those who are finding it difficult to WFH, you have to 'book a desk'.

How does everyone travel to the office? Part of our issue in getting people back is that we're in a city centre so 90% of people come by public transport.

[Back2WorkForMe]

@WhatsHappeningCaroleBaskin
Probably half travel by public transport. I would be happy for them to WFH and I can work in office as I drive, and if they WFH the office would be okay with not as many as us in.