Can't fulfill job function because of my weight

[ShortyFortyFatty]

I recently started a new job. It took ages to get anything and I was so pleased. However, there's one specific duty I'll have to do which I can't physically manage. It involves climbing on stacks of stock to change a card display and bluntly I'm too short and fat. Although ladders are available, the arrangement of stuff on pallets means you have to climb on it and crawl over as you can't bring ladders close enough to it. I don't think it would take my weight and I don't want to even attempt it.

I'm not sure what to do. It's one tiny bit of the job but an absolute necessity. I don't know whether to just quit, quit and explain why or to ask if there's any alternative roles as i can't physically manage this one.

Any advice? WWYD

Sorry but this is one of those times when you have to be confident ( even if you don’t feel it). Hand S “ won’t go down well” is nonsense...it’s the law. If you lose your job ..not good..if you break your neck??!

13st isn't an unreasonable weight so this has nothing to do with your size, this arrangement doesnt sound at all safe, for anyone. Can you think of a safer way to display the card display? Could you reach it with one of those grabber things? Could the card display be moved onto the side of the pallet instead of the top. See if you can come up with a creative solution?

I weigh 20stone, but even if I weighed 8 there is no way I would be climbing over pallets of stock, especially stacked pallets to do this.

It is not safe.

My dh works in a warehouse, they have very strict rules on this type of thing you can actually get in trouble for doing it. But he's always said even if you would get in trouble it's not worth risking your health you can get another job but if you injure yourself you might not be able to work.

An update
I worked last night, the current dept manager asked how I found my last shift. I said I had no problems with using ladders, but I can't climb on stock and I wasn't going to even try it.

Manager said that she can't ask me to do it that way due to H&S and explained the official procedure (getting someone who moves pallets on a truck to move it).

But it was all a bit awkward and the conversation was in front of someone else (who'd told me I'd just have to do it).

My sense is I'll soon not be needed anymore. But that's fine tbh as much as I wanted the job I'm not so desperate to take the risks.

Thanks for all the supportive posts, I was wary of posting but glad I did

Well done for speaking up!

Good for you!

Well done, you!

Just reading back and see you’re 13 stone. A typical bloke of 6ft plus would be around the same weight, so it’s not really heavy.

good work for speaking up!better to be let go than risk a nasty fall that you might regret for the rest of your life.

OP you do have rights, and shouldn’t be dismissed. whether you’d want to take action and still work there is much harder

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/problems-at-work/employment-tribunals-from-29-july-2013/making-an-employment-tribunal-claim-is-it-worth-it/employment-tribunals-automatic-unfair-dismissal/employment-tribunals-automatic-unfair-dismissal-health-and-safety/