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What are my rights in my care job?

Category: Health Care

xlauraxmariexxlauraxmariex


I have been working as a carer for about a month.

Today they made me supervise a resident in the smoking room, so I've had 7 cigarettes worth of passive smoking today.

I'm a non smoker for health reasons and there's a chance I may be or become pregnant soon.

Do I have the right to refuse to go in the smoke room? I'm only new there and my hours aren't guaranteed so I'm nervous to refuse.

Stephen
Stephen

As it is a health and safety issue I would imagine your employers are on a sticky wicket asking you to do this. I would ring CAB or your union (if you don't belong then join) or if you have household insurance check it out you may have free legal advice.

The legislation does not cover people providing personal care or domestic work in a persons home or personal accommodation. Since employers have a duty of care to take reasonable precautions to protect the health of their employees, management need to undertake a risk assessment to reduce level of exposure to tobacco smoke that is as far as is reasonably practicable. See The Royal College of Nurses document, Protecting Community Staff from Exposure to Secondhand Smoke, www.rcn.org.uk for suggestions, e.g. asking residents not to smoke when a staff member is in the room and opening windows to fully ventilate the room during and after smoking.

Go to the direct.gov link I think that will answer your problem

jackie m
jackie m

Just remember there is 3 million other people unemployed and I am sure there is a lot that can do your job? I would put up with it or find another job or stay still you get pregnant and leave, are you guaranteed to be pregnant soon as it took me 3 years of trying? As for the 7 cigarettes, you wont have inhaled all the smoke from all 7 of them - do you drive a car? do you know there is more cancer causing chemicals seeping into the car from the exhaust fumes than there is from cigarettes?


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