Went to pick up a load of Electrical stuff at Panasonic at Bedwas in Wales a few year ago, badly needed a dump but was told “Drivers” were not allowed to use the bog and the nearest one was the services on the M4 so I said I would have to go, and was told “hurry back this is an important load”, so when I had my dump I just kept going back to Tilbury with the phone ringing every 30 seconds till I turned it off, knew I would be sacked so dumped truck and went home.
Blunder Man:
Went to pick up a load of Electrical stuff at Panasonic at Bedwas in Wales a few year ago, badly needed a dump but was told “Drivers” were not allowed to use the bog and the nearest one was the services on the M4 so I said I would have to go, and was told “hurry back this is an important load”, so when I had my dump I just kept going back to Tilbury with the phone ringing every 30 seconds till I turned it off, knew I would be sacked so dumped truck and went home.
rambo19:
Sadly drivers have brought this upon themselves…
Usually I agree with the whole “drivers bring it upon themselves” thing, but i’m not so sure in this instance.
The places that don’t allow toilet access to drivers, generally don’t because the toilets aren’t handy & they consider it too much effort to direct and/or ■■■■■■ drivers through the building. Fair enough if drivers are never on site for long, no where is obliged to provide facilities, but at places where drivers are stuck on site for hours it’s just a total lack of decency towards other human beings.
TG Hughes used to do it, then all of a sudden when drivers kept on pulling off site they found a toilet they could direct drivers to use.
Cannot do this, they have a duty of care, same as when in a shop, if they say there are no customer toilets, they have a duty of care and must allow you to use the staff toilets.
rob22888:
rambo19:
Sadly drivers have brought this upon themselves…Usually I agree with the whole “drivers bring it upon themselves” thing, but i’m not so sure in this instance.
The places that don’t allow toilet access to drivers, generally don’t because the toilets aren’t handy & they consider it too much effort to direct and/or ■■■■■■ drivers through the building. Fair enough if drivers are never on site for long, no where is obliged to provide facilities, but at places where drivers are stuck on site for hours it’s just a total lack of decency towards other human beings.
TG Hughes used to do it, then all of a sudden when drivers kept on pulling off site they found a toilet they could direct drivers to use.
Sadly I think he right. A place I worked at had a toilet for drivers to use. Guaranteed a couple of times a day it would get ruined by graffiti, ■■■■ everywhere and the soap/bog roll got nicked.
In the end they stopped them been used unless it was a regular face who could be trusted.
dowahdiddyman:
Cannot do this, they have a duty of care, same as when in a shop, if they say there are no customer toilets, they have a duty of care and must allow you to use the staff toilets.
Link to that law please…
Only one instance where this has happened, it was simple unless I really need it I wont ask, this time I really needed it and was told "NO toilet " ok I said where do you pee? staff only toilet I’m told. Il use that one “NO” again, no problem give me my keys and green light, I’m dropping trailer and going for a pee, again “NO” I’m told. Right you little jobs worth keys now or I phone the police reporting I’m being held against my will, 1 manager later my keys are given to me, I drop trailer, pull up to chain fence (opposite transport office) and pee up my wheel, turn round and grab trailer again (green light still) go back to office and give keys back. Blank looking manager says “and that was in aid of” me, simple, I needed a pee and we can both be awkward. I’m now allowed to use that loo whenever I need to and from what ive seen so are other drivers that ask. Stand up and show these jobs worth little so and so’s that we aint scum and wont be treated like scum
dowahdiddyman:
Cannot do this, they have a duty of care, same as when in a shop, if they say there are no customer toilets, they have a duty of care and must allow you to use the staff toilets.
The phrase duty of care is now banded about so much by people to try to make any law they’ve invented in their head more authorative that its lost all meaning
A shop has no “duty of care” to you to let you use their staff toilet unless you’re a pregnant female and even that is a grey area
rambo19:
dowahdiddyman:
Cannot do this, they have a duty of care, same as when in a shop, if they say there are no customer toilets, they have a duty of care and must allow you to use the staff toilets.Link to that law please…
As far as visitors to industrial premises go It will be in the Health & Safety at Work Act.
cav551:
As far as visitors to industrial premises go It will be in the Health & Safety at Work Act.
Exactly this. You are working on their premises. For as long as your are required to be on their site to carry out your work they need to provide you access to welfare facilties.
Strictly speaking, they do not have to supply welfare facilities to the sub contract drivers. They have to supply services, ie, hot water, toilet facilities to their own staff. The reason why welfare services are often refused to drivers is usually down to bad experiences. I have seen welfare facilities trashed by sub contract labour. It actually is at the discretion of the host to provide these facilities. It is now common practice to have separate facilities for drivers. I personally think it should be provided but if this is being abused by some drivers leaving the facilities in a disgusting state and stealing toilet rolls etc, you can’t really blame them. I have never been refused toilet facilities myself but then I am respectful to this privilege.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Employers and those in control of workplaces, have a general duty under the Act to ensure so far as is ‘reasonably practicable’ the health, safety, and welfare of all their employees, and anyone who uses the premises…
The law states that they have to provide toilets if they have a canteen on site. There is nothing there about who they allow to use it. I agree with what’s been said, ■■■■ on the floor, attitude will soon change. As for if you need a dump? I would hold it. But what if you have diarrhoea and can’t? If there is no other option, and no toilet, I would just tip it near the front wheels, I carry bog roll, it’s no skin off my nose. And I won’t be cleaning it up neither.
Reasonably practical. Your own employer should ensure that there is adequate welfare facilities such as toilets or make provision for them themselves, either having in the contract use of their toilet facilities or by the means of ensuring there are toilet facilities nearby. No one has ever been taken to court nor would they for not allowing a driver the use of a toilet. If that company extends the right of use of such facilities they may also withdraw those facilities with good grounds. Those grounds may include cleaning, theft & damage. Companies that refuse the use of their welfare facilities may do so.