General Workplace Safety
Common Questions
Cold Weather:
When is cold weather a
hazard?
Difficult to define as depends on personal experiences, your local climate, whether or not you are acclimatised etc but generally speaking when ever the weather is cold enough to potentially threaten your health.
Difficult to define as depends on personal experiences, your local climate, whether or not you are acclimatised etc but generally speaking when ever the weather is cold enough to potentially threaten your health.
- Emergency evacuation.
- Communication (batteries die quickly in the cold).
- What if......separated from group, get cut off, roads/air moves impossible etc?
- Suitable clothing (think layered approach).
- Wind and waterproof if necessary.
- If necessary have sleeping bag.
- Footwear suitable for terrain.
- Carry spare clothing, emergency rations, means to cook them and emergency shelter.
- Waterproof all equipment.
- Medical kit
Where can I get it from?
The Safety Equipment Stores can supply suitable equipment. High Risk Team can also advise on type of equipment.
Drinking Water:
Does the BBC have to provide water
coolers, or bottled water in offices?
No unless the mains supply is not drinkable then provision of
tap water is acceptable.
We're going on a location
can we just use the tap water?
Probably, but you will need to check with the location owner whether the tap water is drinkable and that the supply is reliable. You may need to have the water tested and this may take some time so this needs to be considered well before getting to the location. If the production timetable doesn't make this practical then you will probably be better off getting water supplied in tanks or bottles the caterer will need to know how they are to obtain clean water and should be able to help advise you. Remember that even washing up water has to be drinkable.
Probably, but you will need to check with the location owner whether the tap water is drinkable and that the supply is reliable. You may need to have the water tested and this may take some time so this needs to be considered well before getting to the location. If the production timetable doesn't make this practical then you will probably be better off getting water supplied in tanks or bottles the caterer will need to know how they are to obtain clean water and should be able to help advise you. Remember that even washing up water has to be drinkable.
My manager says we have
to get drinking water from the sinks in the loos. Is this
acceptable?
This might be necessary in older buildings where this was a normal arrangement but in most BBC buildings there should be taps outside toilet areas. Water in kitchenettes should be drinkable. If you do have to get drinking water from a tap in a loo then it should be labelled as being drinking water and you there should be clean cups and jugs.
This might be necessary in older buildings where this was a normal arrangement but in most BBC buildings there should be taps outside toilet areas. Water in kitchenettes should be drinkable. If you do have to get drinking water from a tap in a loo then it should be labelled as being drinking water and you there should be clean cups and jugs.
The water supply in our
building has broken down and they've given us jugs of water.
Is this acceptable?
From time to time the mains supply to buildings can be expected to fail either because of maintenance or breakdown on or off site. Provided that the jugs are clean, the water in them is clean, that there are cups to drink it from and that there is enough of it, then this is acceptable. The facilities management department should keep staff frequently updated as to when the permanent supply will be restored. It would be unusual for this situation to last for more than one or two days and the premises managers will be liaising with safety specialists for advice.
From time to time the mains supply to buildings can be expected to fail either because of maintenance or breakdown on or off site. Provided that the jugs are clean, the water in them is clean, that there are cups to drink it from and that there is enough of it, then this is acceptable. The facilities management department should keep staff frequently updated as to when the permanent supply will be restored. It would be unusual for this situation to last for more than one or two days and the premises managers will be liaising with safety specialists for advice.
Contact your facilities manager, the venue or event manager,
location manager or other person in charge and tell them. They will
tell you if the water is safe to drink even if it is discoloured.
You should not drink any water if there are visible "bits" in
it.
First Aid:
How can I find out who is a first aider
in my department?
Your Health & Safety coordinator will be able to give you a list of names of FA's and the areas they support.
Your Health & Safety coordinator will be able to give you a list of names of FA's and the areas they support.
How can I
become a qualified First Aider?
Inform your line manager that you are interested, and if there is a need for FAs in your area, your department's training authoriser can book a 4 day Certificated Course online.
Inform your line manager that you are interested, and if there is a need for FAs in your area, your department's training authoriser can book a 4 day Certificated Course online.
If I use something out of a First Aid Box,
who do I inform to get it replaced?
If a First Aid box is supplied by Facilities Management and it is in a public area, then inform FM that replacements are needed.
If a department chooses to purchase their own First Aid box, then re-stocking it is the responsibility of the department, usually done by the health and safety coordinator who can buy supplies from a stationary catalogue, or from Facilities Management.
If a First Aid box is supplied by Facilities Management and it is in a public area, then inform FM that replacements are needed.
If a department chooses to purchase their own First Aid box, then re-stocking it is the responsibility of the department, usually done by the health and safety coordinator who can buy supplies from a stationary catalogue, or from Facilities Management.
Rest Areas:
How do I find out where my nearest Rest
Area is?
You can either ask your Line Manager, or ask Facilities Management for your building.
You can either ask your Line Manager, or ask Facilities Management for your building.
Signs:
Where can I get signage?
Signage can be arranged through your local Facilities Manager.
Signage can be arranged through your local Facilities Manager.
Contact: Safety Advice Line 0464 |
Other BBC People Contacts
BBC People Intranet Manager (02) 24008 | Page last updated: 26/06/2008
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BBC People Intranet Manager (02) 24008 | Page last updated: 26/06/2008
Gateway homepage | Search | Gateway A-Z | Help
©MMVIII