Just wondering if there is a PPE policy for frozen, we go in the walk in freezer in just our uniform but also we are only provided with merchandising gloves. I have tried to order the thermal ones from uniform website but they keep getting cancelled. Myself and a colleague this morning had soaking wet gloves, our hands were bright red and my colleagues knuckles were blue and it was extremely painful but there was no solution offered.
"Colleagues working in the freezer should wear a cold room jacket and gloves"
https://help.ourtesco.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021147520-Questions-around-wearing-personal-protective-equipment-PPE-
Also better wearing no gloves whilst filling as the gloves lock the moisture in, save them for when only in the walk-in or to warm your hands up when not constantly handling products.
Normally in every store I've worked in there's cold room jackets outside the freezer for you to wear. I've worn the thick gloves before but don't find them helpful so I normally just wear normal blue gloves. I'd highly recommend wearing gloves when handling frozen cages.
If they aren't providing you with PPE, and you are harming yourself by not wearing it I'd refuse to work in the freezer without it. They should have it available. I often will only wear the cold room jacket if I need to be in the freezer for more than 2 mins as under that I'm fine in my normal fleece.
I'm pretty sure as well if working in the freezer for a prolongued period there are rules about how long you should spend in there, such as 30 mins in 30 out. Can't quite remember exactly however
Thank you, I'm mainly OK without jacket it's the gloves issue and our shop floor freezers are so iced up wearing none isn't possible, I have arthritis which they are well aware off and its causing us all pain not just me.
Quote from: Brez on 22-10-22, 07:35PM"Colleagues working in the freezer should wear a cold room jacket and gloves"
https://help.ourtesco.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021147520-Questions-around-wearing-personal-protective-equipment-PPE-
Also better wearing no gloves whilst filling as the gloves lock the moisture in, save them for when only in the walk-in or to warm your hands up when not constantly handling products.
Couldn't see anything on that page about frozen?
Freezer coats are a store issue, which is probably why your request is being cancelled. If your dept is freezers, then the gloves should be available to order on your own uniform request form. I take it you are also wearing safety shoes whilst going into the freezer?
Freezer coats should be available to all who enter. There should be a size selection placed in the freezer area, and these coats SHOULD be professionally laundered on a regular basis! Gloves and shoes are personal, and not to be shared.
Ask your manager and/or whoever requests store uniform issue, why there are no freezer coats at your disposal? It's "tools for the job" so no tools provided, no going in there! You politely refuse stating it's not a reasonable request as you're not being provided the correct uniform to perform the task! Tell them your happy to fill the freezers on the shop floor from the cage whilst wearing the chiller gloves, but they will need to be brought out and returned for you!
Your store should have a designated health & safety rep...this is not necessarily a union rep, so you don't have to be a union member. Ask them to support you in getting the correct tools to perform your role. If you are a union member, your rep can also look into getting the coats ordered!
Saying "you don't mind" is not really the solution as it becomes the norm, and others, such as your colleague with arthritis will suffer worse and affect his ability to perform his tasks.
You would be in your rights to refuse to go into the freezer until the correct uniform protection is provided!
8-) p.s. there is also a ruling as to the length of time in the freezer, in as much that after a specified period you are entitled to go and get a hot drink. I'm unsure of the timing, ?20 mins? rings a bell, but perhaps another poster can clarify, or ask your H&S rep.
I see it's you with the arthritis, speak to your H&S rep, as you say they're aware of your condition, also a doctors letter confirming your condition and the negative effect of lack of protection on your health, to be placed in your file!
P.p.s. Your shop floor freezers should not be iced up, there should be a colleague whose job it is to read and record the temperature of the shelf indicators as to the freezer running at the correct settings.
At one time head office would ring the store if they'd had an alert to certain fridges and freezers not performing correctly, to be investigated! Unsure if this is still the case, but if your shop floor freezers are iced over, someone's not doing their job properly, and the buck stops with the section manager!
From my experience of karting in cold, wet, winter months I tried many different gloves to find ones that offer real protection. For karting I also needed some that offer a decent level of palm grip as many, while weatherproof were too slippy. I finally settled on these as the best
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00767ELKA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
'Freezer coats should be laundered on a regular basis' :D :D :D
Gloves should be issued to each person, PPE Personal Protective Equipment, there is no 'S' for share.
Both gloves and coats should be issued to respective people who are using the freezer and laundered regularly, if your told you don't need one it's a reasonable response to refuse to work on freezers without them, since the company policies are to provide you with them.. Its laziness of store to do it.
Quote from: lucgeo on 23-10-22, 09:13AMP.p.s. Your shop floor freezers should not be iced up, there should be a colleague whose job it is to read and record the temperature of the shelf indicators as to the freezer running at the correct settings.
At one time head office would ring the store if they'd had an alert to certain fridges and freezers not performing correctly, to be investigated! Unsure if this is still the case, but if your shop floor freezers are iced over, someone's not doing their job properly, and the buck stops with the section manager!
Partially true, there is a daily legal check that is done saying there's no buildup of ice in the freezer. If a fridge or freezer is on high temperature or is not operating correctly, refrigeration will call the duty manager who then checks the unit and takes appropriate action. They also get case cleaned every 6 months, which helps them run smoothly and prevent buildup of ice.
"Partially true " ??? I'm always happy to be corrected but...
My post and yours, though worded differently, are seemingly making the same statement of facts ???
I wish someone would please clean our shop floor Freezers every six months :D.
There's more ice at the back of the cabinets and on the products themselves than the Arctic Circle!
PPE Frozen
Freezer coat
Freezer gloves
8-) Safety shoes 8-)
our freezer staff were given blue Tesco beanie hats as well, before the uniform changed, but say they can't order new ones as they seem to have disappeared from the uniform range when it changed to the new stuff.
ask to order backdoor / trolleys uniform - it has the padded jackets , hats and warm gloves (a variety of, in blue , white and yellow)