General Chat

It gets worse. Part of my job is that I am in radio contact with colegues on a fairly regular basis, my problem is that if they need to come in and see if I am ok I have to let them in.
Sounds like I am making it up but I assure you I am not.

Don't worry - the comments about working alone in a building are still relevant. If that wasn't in your contract, then you probably have grounds to refuse to do so.

May be you could get round that if there is some system where you are contacted or contact someone every 15 minutes or so?

I'm really sorry for my mistake but I meant to say cannot be opened from the outside, which is just as bad because it means that no one can get in unless I let them in.
Feel really embarrassed now and apologise for my mistake.

There has got to be a risk assessment done and there is no way anyone should work in a building alone that they cannot open from the inside. Also what would happen if you tripped and fell injuring yourself. We are not allowed to work in our building alone. Although we work flexi time at the end of the day no-one should be left in the building alone. I think that your problem might be that if they are offering you another building to work in but you have failed to to pass the training to work there - I am not at all sure where that leaves you.

That's my thinking too AnnCardiff but I ain't giving up without a fight, they are very short staffed so I understand they want us to be flexible but I cannot work outside due to health problems, me thinks I am a thorn in their side and the more they try to dig me out the deeper I go.

smacks of constructive dismissal to me

It is ongoing, I failed the training to work in another building and have to wait til Monday to see what happens next, I can't see why they would want to put me in another building when I can do the job fine where I am now.

If you're in the UK you could try going to the Citizen's Advice who should be able to help you sort this out.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

This is black and white, it is illegal and they can't legally force you to do it. Fires do happen.

Sounds to me, like they're being bullies.

the health and safety issue is

if there is a fire how do you get out :-( :-(

Have mentioned this to OH who has some experience in working in 'sensitive' environments.

At no time should an employee or sub-contractor be locked into a building or room. They should always be able to exit independently.
When there are environmentally dangerous or 'sensitive' materials in the building, then there should be 2 people present. One provides a check on the other as well as safe-guarding each other's safety.
The only thing he can think of is that they are trying to cut costs

Remind your Manager about the Civil Service furore resulting in the Poaching(?) Report.

In a commercial situation there might be just the one night guard, but even then they should never ever be locked in.

i work in that building at the moment but not alone, my gut feeling is that the one I'm in there is also my supervisor and wants me out so he can have the one he wants in there with him, I am to have training to work in another building, if I fail the training then I will have to see the factory Doctor ( which I have no problem with ) because I am restricted health wise as to where I can work.
Thank you all for your guidance x.

It doesn't sound legal to me, either - hence the request for a risk assessment!!!

Doesn't sound at all legal or safe!

Be careful...

Lizx

NO,NO,NO! They want you to be alone in a locked building that you can't exit? Absolutely not!

Have they done a risk assessment?
They will need to do one.
I'd also ask to see it to make sure it is suitable for you.
Meanwhile, a few thoughts....

Will somebody be contacting you occasionally to make sure you're okay?
Will security know you're in there, if yes, how will they know when you've gone?
If there is no security, what if there's an intruder?
What if there's a fire?

That's what I think too, or if I fainted etc.

I think elf and safety would have something to say about that - what if there was a fire

I am not sure if this is legal but I think my bosses will expect me to work alone in a building that can only be open from the outside and the nature of the job says we cannot leave or prop the door open.
Any thoughts and guidance on this greatly appreciated.