Refuse collection crews in Stoke-on-Trent have been told that they will not be allowed to wear shorts at work except in cases of extreme hot weather [see update].
City council workers including street cleansing teams who were issued with shorts as part of their uniform last year, have since been told the garment poses a safety risk compared to their standard ballistic trousers.
The council fears that without the protective trousers, workers could be injured by sharp objects, broken glass, thorns and discarded needles they might encounter in their day-to-day work.
Recyclable waste in Stoke-on-Trent is collected commingled from households using either a blue wheeled bin or green box for glass, tins, plastics, and cardboard.
The council concedes that the shorts should be worn only if there has been a heatwave warning issued on behalf of either the NHS or MET Office warning or in the case of particularly hot weather.
A spokesman for Stoke-on-Trent city council said: Our main priority is protecting our workers from harm, because it would be unforgiveable if we put them in danger, but unfortunately the shorts offer little protection against injury.
The only reason we would let staff wear shorts is if we received warnings from other agencies, such as the Met Office or the NHS, that the weather was hot enough to pose a health risk. There is no trigger temperature involved we just use common sense and listen to expert advice.
‘The only reason we would let staff wear shorts is if we received warnings from other agencies, such as the Met Office or the NHS, that the weather was hot enough to pose a health risk. There is no trigger temperature involved we just use common sense and listen to expert advice.’
– Stoke-on-Trent city council
He added: We have to weigh up the risks and decide whether the heatwave danger outweighs the need for workers to protect their lower legs from injury. Were one of the few councils that allow staff to wear shorts at work, and it was very popular with the staff when we tried it out during last summers spell of extreme hot weather.
HSE
When contacted by letsrecycle.com the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) said that it does not have a specific policy on whether workers should be allowed to wear shorts, but said that in this instance it is for the council to determine what is appropriate for staff to wear depending on the risks they face.
A spokesman for the HSE said: Health and safety laws are not specific or prescriptive as to whether workers should or should not wear shorts, nor is there anything in legislation to determine temperatures at which shorts can be worn.
This sounds more like a local policy decided by the local authority. It’s the responsibility of the employer to determine whether the attire of the worker is appropriate for the task, and proportionate to the risks associated with that task.
GMB
In Stoke-on-Trent the restriction on the wearing of shorts has been criticised by the GMB trade union, which has claimed that the local authority was wrong to revert to the old rules.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com GMB union organiser for Stoke-on-Trent, Colin Griffiths, said: Workers should have more say. As long as there is no health and safety issue they should be able to wear shorts. A lot of local authorities allow their waste workers to wear shorts, and also professions such as postmen and women. I am quite happy with it.
- UPDATE 15:13 11/07/14 Stoke city council has indicated that shorts were not ‘banned’ as it implies they have always been allowed. It confirms that rules were ‘voluntarily relaxed’ to allow workers to wear shorts during the 2013 hot spell.
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