Safety at work

[pauld]

We've just had a new drinking water tap installed at work, presumably at great expense. To get water out of it, you have to push a button on the top, or two buttons if you want hot water. Next to it is a poster explaining that the "two buttons for hot" is a "safety feature". Now, I'm all for safety in the workplace, but in the name of all that's holy, precisely what grade of low-level monkey do you have to be that you can't operate a hot tap safely? If there are such people, how do they manage to get by on a day-to-day basis in their own houses without succumbing to tragic accidents? Surely, such people should be in sheltered accommodation of some form with carers constantly looking over them lest they drown/electrocute/stab themselves while trying to make a cup of tea? And are they really likely to be in any form of employment at all?

[Colin Todd]

I've often thought taps are a potential death trap

[Bogus Dave]

I saw a sign in the toilets once explaining to foreigners how we in england use them. Not sure if i posted the picture on here, i'll try and find it. It seemed slighty patronising though

[yeo]

Its political correctness gone mad!

(obviously its not,I just like saying that)

[Foggy]

We have a sign at work that says "Risk of Danger" what is that meant to mean?

[ronnie21]

We've just had a new drinking water tap installed at work, presumably at great expense. To get water out of it, you have to push a button on the top, or two buttons if you want hot water. Next to it is a poster explaining that the "two buttons for hot" is a "safety feature". Now, I'm all for safety in the workplace, but in the name of all that's holy, precisely what grade of low-level monkey do you have to be that you can't operate a hot tap safely? If there are such people, how do they manage to get by on a day-to-day basis in their own houses without succumbing to tragic accidents? Surely, such people should be in sheltered accommodation of some form with carers constantly looking over them lest they drown/electrocute/stab themselves while trying to make a cup of tea? And are they really likely to be in any form of employment at all?

Whilst I agree with all of your points Paul, we live in a society today that wants to sue at every opportunity.  I would say your employer is just taking the safe route!

[A Gent Orange]

I just worried about the future. We are undoing Darwin’s work here. With the waves of mouth-breathers that hot taps and other dangerous objects of their ilk (toilet seats, trousers etc) would normally winnow out, all surviving these horrors we will be left as as species barely to function even as breathing machines for our own genitals.

[Lumps]

Is it one of those taps that provides near boiling water for the making of hot drinks?

In which case it is a bit more dangerous than a domestic hot water tap. Even if it isn't hot water systems in public buildings tend to have to have their water a quite a bit hotter than in domestic premises to avoid counter the treat of legionella that comes with water that's only a bit hot or warm.

[Jamiesfuturewife]

I have a city and Guilds in Legionella awareness! get me!

[Bogus Dave]

[url width=604 height=453]http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v363/114/114/538891138/n538891138_1045004_6587.jpg[/url]

[Nemo]

In the UK? In which countries are toilets designed to be stood on?

[pauld]

In the UK? In which countries are toilets designed to be stood on?

They have standup/squat ones in Southern France and Northern Spain (sort of Pyrenees/border region) where you kind of stand up/squat over a hole. Hope that helps

[oxford_fan]

Africa, asia, some parts of Europe. Here's one I visited at a restaurant in Swindon:

[url width=450 height=300]http://community.travelchinaguide.com/photo/5111/51118015352134.jpg[/url]

[pauld]

Is it one of those taps that provides near boiling water for the making of hot drinks?

In which case it is a bit more dangerous than a domestic hot water tap. Even if it isn't hot water systems in public buildings tend to have to have their water a quite a bit hotter than in domestic premises to avoid counter the treat of legionella that comes with water that's only a bit hot or warm.

Oh, come on. It's hot water FFS! By the same logic, only trained ninjas should be allowed to make tea

[Samdy Gray]

They have standup/squat ones in Southern France and Northern Spain (sort of Pyrenees/border region) where you kind of stand up/squat over a hole. Hope that helps

I've seen one of those at a truck stop in Southern France. It's probably the most harrowing, disgusting experience I've ever had in my life. It was just a 10ft wide hole in the floor that you had to crouch around.