Chorus outside employees not allowed to wear short sleeves?

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Klipspringer

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#140671 17-Feb-2014 10:53

A mate of mine who works for Chorus (Wellington) told me that they are no longer allowed to wear short sleeve shirts. Reasoning is skin cancer, and its company policy to ensure the safety of employees. Anybody know if this is true? I certainly would not be happy wearing long sleeve tops in the middle of summer. There is a think called sun block.

Really keen to hear from anybody that does a lot of outside work and what their employers policy is around this! To me this does sound like just another one of those ridiculous over the top rules being implemented....

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Master Geek
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#988717 17-Feb-2014 11:09

He is probably employed by Transfield Services, an Ozzie company, and it is common policy for Ozzie companies to require outdoor workers to be fully covered.
Is also starting to required for building sites in NZ

BlueShift

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#988722 17-Feb-2014 11:16

This would never happen in the USA - they have a constitutional right to bare arms.

MikeB4

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#988727 17-Feb-2014 11:22

sounds like a sensible policy

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

johnr

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#988729 17-Feb-2014 11:26

Maybe they could supply sun screen

Kingy

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#988730 17-Feb-2014 11:28

The thing is, sunscreen is a temporary solution. I barely trust it enough to stay in the sun for more than an hour. And even if you do trust it enough to rely on it's 2 hour protection, it's not effective if you just apply more after 2 hours and expect it to work for another 2.

If you're outside working all day in the sun you need to be fully covered in order to protect yourself. Aussie construction workers wear pants/long sleeves/hats with neck flaps. Which is fantastic. The sun in this part of the world isn't to be messed with.

I'd even argue the point that in some cases a long sleeved shirt can keep you cooler than being in direct sunlight.

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Lyderies

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#988731 17-Feb-2014 11:28

KiwiNZ: sounds like a sensible policy

Please explain and expand?

I'm going to noob myself past judgement

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Klipspringer

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#988738 17-Feb-2014 11:33

KiwiNZ: sounds like a sensible policy

LOL I don't think we ever agree on anything.

Except living in Kapiti that is. Hope your plans are coming on well. :-)

Klipspringer

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#988741 17-Feb-2014 11:36

Kingy:
If you're outside working all day in the sun you need to be fully covered in order to protect yourself. Aussie construction workers wear pants/long sleeves/hats with neck flaps. Which is fantastic. The sun in this part of the world isn't to be messed with.

I'd even argue the point that in some cases a long sleeved shirt can keep you cooler than being in direct sunlight.

But the sun is out all day, every day (well not every day in Wellington), so surely as an adult individual you take the same precautions if you playing in the sun, ie over the weekend, or at work in the sun.

Outside is not really classed as office space.

But I guess this is another one of those rules that they need to enforce on everybody just to make sure a certain few take their own precautions.

MikeB4

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#988743 17-Feb-2014 11:38

Lyderies:
KiwiNZ: sounds like a sensible policy

Please explain and expand?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanoma

Being covered lasts all day, sun screen for a couple of hours

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

hsvhel

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#988745 17-Feb-2014 11:41

Im employed by an Aussie based company, the long sleve outdoors policy is not an enforced one. More a guided policy. The vehicles are also required to have tinted windows for UV reduction. Sounds OTT, but they are over there around these things.

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overkill

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#988747 17-Feb-2014 11:43

Klipspringer: Anybody know if this is true?

Yes this 100% true, in Wellington the contracting company is Downer and their H&S is for long sleeve tops and long trousers. They even have to reverse into carparks on all Downer sites.

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Klipspringer

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#988748 17-Feb-2014 11:43

KiwiNZ:
Lyderies:
KiwiNZ: sounds like a sensible policy

Please explain and expand?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanoma

Being covered lasts all day, sun screen for a couple of hours

I'm aware of the consequences of not covering up.

My question is actually around company policy. Is it necessary for employers to enforce this one? And why are they doing it? What happens if an employee who works for 5 years develops skin cancer? Should the employer be worried?

Mark

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#988753 17-Feb-2014 11:46

It's probably just a company butt covering rule .. if an outdoors working employee later on develops skin cancer they won't have much traction in suing Chorus for failing to provide a safe work environment because Chorus will just point at the rules saying to cover up.

Plus it's a sensible rule anyway! Goes along with "don't look into the laser with your remaining eye." and "don't eat your lunch in front of the microwave transmitter." :-)

Lyderies

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#988754 17-Feb-2014 11:46

KiwiNZ:
Lyderies:
KiwiNZ: sounds like a sensible policy

Please explain and expand?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanoma

Being covered lasts all day, sun screen for a couple of hours

Do you work a physical job out in the sun all day? I have, and if i was wearing long sleeved clothes with the amount of work i was doing i would guarantee be worse off from heat stroke than a sun burn... Slip slop slap

I'm going to noob myself past judgement

MikeB4

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#988758 17-Feb-2014 11:49

Klipspringer:
KiwiNZ:
Lyderies:
KiwiNZ: sounds like a sensible policy

Please explain and expand?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanoma

Being covered lasts all day, sun screen for a couple of hours

I'm aware of the consequences of not covering up.

My question is actually around company policy. Is it necessary for employers to enforce this one? And why are they doing it? What happens if an employee who works for 5 years develops skin cancer? Should the employer be worried?

It would come under Part 2 section 6 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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