I work in an office that shouldn't really be there, it's a health hazard and I'm not the only one who thinkgs this, there are 44 of us in the building and we have flats above the office (we're on the ground floor.) We have an ongoing issue with heat in the builing, it's freezing in the winter and I have 3 heaters around me and still get cold as I'm sat near the main office door which gets opened quite regularly, the windows are old and need double glazing!
Then there's the water problems, in the last month we've had the water pack in 3 times and this also included not being able to use the toilets and being told to go over the road to the pub if we're desperate!
The office smells of clinical smell, because it used to be a family planning clinic and the carpet is the same as what it was then.
We have a new office down the road, which hasn't got enough room for all of us and only a handful of us are going down there and this list of people doesn't include me and I want to get out of that building!!
Has anyone come across this, and is there anything I can do legally? I work in a team, there's 3 of us that are full time and it would be a problem if we were split so we'd have to move the three of us. I want to go to my manager but she's not exactly reliable when it comes to 'issues', but wondered if there was anything I can do like 'legal' advice??
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Work issue - advice needed
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Hi bobbly - these folk will tell you what is and is not considered safe working conditions. I would contact them if I were you and report your concerns/get advice
http://www.hse.gov.uk/
Oh, assuming you are in the UK of course...
http://www.hse.gov.uk/
Oh, assuming you are in the UK of course...
Yes I'm in the UK, thanks so much satsuma I'll print off and have a read 
That sounds terrible 
I dont have any advice but I would read that thing sats sent ya. I work for a DIY company in the returns department and at this time of year its bloomin freezing I actually sit and shiver and I have a measley little heater which if I move away from I feel like I've been transported to the north pole x
I dont have any advice but I would read that thing sats sent ya. I work for a DIY company in the returns department and at this time of year its bloomin freezing I actually sit and shiver and I have a measley little heater which if I move away from I feel like I've been transported to the north pole x
<p><font size="3" style="background-color:#f5f5f5;" color="#1fdf77"><strong>What the caterpillar sees as the end to the butterfly is only the beginning :) </strong></font></p>
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Annabobs, couldn't the union step in & help
I'm not in the union at work, do you think they'd do anything then?? Maybe I should look into joining then, and tell them?? I'm not sure how the unions work though, does anyone have any experiences they can tell me about which will help me?
Deleted User
Rank: Slouch Bag
I don't know TBH Annabobbs, I haven't lived in the UK for 24 years, over here we have the 'berufsgenossenshaft' (try saying that with a mouthful of cornflakes) they are attatched to the trade unions and will investigate complaints, try ringing the union and ask if they can point you in the right direction
It's entirely a union issue I don't think, although they do have power over the way companies act. You need to do what Satsuma suggested and check out the HSE's website. Your workspace has to comply with Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and various other Acts of Parliament similar to that. It's up to individual companies to decide how best to proceed but your risk assessments should ensure that you're working in a legally acceptable space. It's your employer's repsonsibility to make sure you're warm and dry, have clean water, a place to eat, toilets and PAT tested electronics - stuff like that. You've got them by the balls if you haven't got proper toilet facilities!
HSE's site is ok; it's fairly public friendly. You can contact the HSE by regional office and you can complain about your employer anonymously. http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/maps/index.htm
HSE's site is ok; it's fairly public friendly. You can contact the HSE by regional office and you can complain about your employer anonymously. http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/maps/index.htm
Thanks guys, this is really useful stuff. I'm so annoyed, if I didn't like my job I would just look for another but I love my job but just don't like that place smelly, wet and depressing
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