Needles on site- your job as a tree team?

[JaySmith]

It sounds as though your employer is falling short in terms of Health and safety and not putting adequate measures in place. Think you need to have a sit down with them and go through your concerns. I am one for cracking on no matter what but when it comes to sharps the outcome could be life changing (worse case). We work for a large council and when we go and price jobs if there is evidence of needles they send a specific clean up crew in to make sure the area is safe before work commences, this ticks the box for them and also for our health and safety policy. If all else fails could you not speak to the form you sub off? If they are a large company then they will have h&s policies in place to deal with this kind of thing

[Ian G 2]

This sounds like a case off as long as you's are still doing the job then no problems found

And it will continue until yourself and the rest of the team say enoughs enough stop and flag the problem right up the to the top. We had same sort of problem different situation but it soon got it sorted when we all said no on health and safety grounds.

[TIMON]

You can buy specialist needle stick proof gloves. I seem to remember they cost about £150 a pair. You can get large sharp bins through local chemist or local needle exchange. Charge for the service as appropriate.

If it is a common occurrence and there are lots of needles then your boss/director has a legal and moral obligation to safeguard the workforce.

[FatherJack]

Should this not be covered in the risk assessment, and subsequently the toolbox talks? If the workforce is not satisfied, then request an updated risk assessment based on the feedback from a toolbox talk. Use the system to protect yourself....................................

[Mr. Squirrel]

Sod needles man, that sounds horrific. I'd be putting my foot down and telling whoever it is that's speccing that into jobs to do it themselves with the kit ptotally rovided. I certainly wouldn't be picking them up by hand, gloves or not.

Sounds like you've spoken to a wall about the issue for a while now. If your concerns, and they are totally legitimate, are falling on deaf ears then make them understand...

[WoodMouse]

In my expirience, Treesurgeons generally aren't prepared or trained to deal with this kind of thing. Either have the landowner clean up before you start work, or if it's council they'll have a team to deal with that sort of hazard. I cant see hoe it would fit into a risk assesment without pushing it over the top.

[WoodMouse]

You can buy specialist needle stick proof gloves. I seem to remember they cost about £150 a pair. You can get large sharp bins through local chemist or local needle exchange. Charge for the service as appropriate.

If it is a common occurrence and there are lots of needles then your boss/director has a legal and moral obligation to safeguard the workforce.

 

Not my trade, i wouldn't even entertain charging for a service. Same as those inevitable "asbesdos" jobs

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Hi all,

Something that is cropping up alot recently at work are jobs where there is a high amount of needles and other drug related stuff within the working area.

We subcontract to a large company who give us alot of work, but me as team leader on these jobs ( I am not the proprietor of the company) I am finding myself in a difficult position.

On several occasions I have spoken to my contract manager regarding the needles to the reply of - be vigilant, make sure they are put in am your sharps box and disposed of at your local clinic. This is poor imo, no rams, no ppe, no training, which as far as I remember from any of my nptc courses was the main things HSE would ask if there was an accident. We arent even jabbed for hepatitis. It's not worth the risk for my day rate, as we have all said.

My question to you is this, as the team leader (not comoany onwer) am I in the position to say no, there are needles on site we will come back once removed.

What would your views be if your lads phoned you with my views?

Thanks

 

The Health and Safety at Work Act, and the associated Management of H&S at Work Regs, place a duty on you as the 'employee' to tell someone if you think the work or inadequate precautions are putting anyone's H&S at serious risk. Hence I would suggest you have done this directly, albeit going through an appointed employee H&S rep would be a good thing to do...if there is such a person.

 

If in response to this notification you are unhappy / dissatisfied with the employers actions to safeguard you / your work colleagues, then you should approach them again and consider lodging a formal grievance. You may wish to contact the HSE directly (see Raising your concern )

 

Good luck and I hope you get the matter resolved soon.

 

Paul

[felixthelogchopper]

You can buy specialist needle stick proof gloves. I seem to remember they cost about £150 a pair. You can get large sharp bins through local chemist or local needle exchange. Charge for the service as appropriate.

If it is a common occurrence and there are lots of needles then your boss/director has a legal and moral obligation to safeguard the workforce.

 

They are stick resist, not proof. I had some for thorn work and tbh they weren't 100%. Thankfully, it was only Blackthorn and not a hypodermic.