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What are work responsible for?

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j666gak

j666gak

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello,

I have work for the same company for 2.5 years now, and a part from notifying work that i'm diabetic in case I had a hypo that was. But we now have a new HR person who is now going to be located at my site. I have now been told that somebody is going to come and see me to do an assessment to check that the company are meeting my needs/requirements for my diabetes.

The thing is i'm not sure what work are actually responsible for? ie a lock fridge? etc Can anybody advise me, or have any ideas.

Thanks
Guy
 
As a person with diabetes you are covered by the Equality Act 2010, which supercedes the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which means that an employer has to make reasonable adjustments to help you. It's a good thing that they are ensuring that they comply, and that you are not placed at risk - for example, you may not wish to be left to work alone if you are at risk of hypo, or may have to take time off for appointments etc. I'm sure others will have some good examples! 🙂
 
It sounds as if the company are trying to be very PC, so it may just be a case of them saying 'is there anything you need as a person with type 1 that we can help you with' etc etc. As Northe says, it may be the case of you bringing up going to appointments, or being able to take unscheduled breaks in case of hypo/hyper, so on so forth. Not sure why you would need a locked fridge as the insulin you use doesn't need to be kept in the fridge (unless you're on mixed insulin I think).

Northe, good to be reminded of the Equality Act! I always still think of the DDA.
 
I used to keep a spare penfill in the fridge at work, so I can see the point.

But I just put it in a tupperware box, clearly marked what was in it and what might happen to someone if they messed with it ! :D

It may be in your favour to suggest ways you can make up any lost time, etc if you need an unscheduled break. It might be a factor if it comes to redundancies, etc. It shouldn't, but might.🙂

Rob
 
Hi, I would suggest that you only ask for adjustments that you really do need to have made for you. For example in the past I've asked for a break from teaching every three hours so that I can check my BGs - but this wasn't really an adjustment because we are only meant to teach in three hour blocks. Another adjustment that was suggested to me was that I could start work later if I had a bad hypo in the morning........but to be honest my view was just to treat the hypo and get on with getting to work for normal time. However if there are adjustments that you really do need making then please ask for them - I've found that I've had to rely on them much more since I've had the macula problems and gastroparesis but the problem then is that, without meaning to, the employer starts seeing the disability rather than your ability........I'm finding it very hard to increase my hours at work again after they were reduced when I was ill last year and this is very frustrating.
 
Hi Guy good luck with assesment. I have been self employed for 27yrs now and can please myself when i want 5mins for myself. Dont have a dinner break as such and have tea break on go(no worky no pay) and forgot that t1s who work for companies have to "behave". I know diabetics can be very determand poeple and would employ one no problem if i was in that position. Keep your head down and dont cause a fuss and once again good luck.
 
j666gak said:
Hello,

I have work for the same company for 2.5 years now, and a part from notifying work that i'm diabetic in case I had a hypo that was. But we now have a new HR person who is now going to be located at my site. I have now been told that somebody is going to come and see me to do an assessment to check that the company are meeting my needs/requirements for my diabetes.

The thing is i'm not sure what work are actually responsible for? ie a lock fridge? etc Can anybody advise me, or have any ideas.

Thanks
Guy
Click to expand...

I enquired with work about attending the DAFNE course and if I shoudl take it as annual leave. They informed me it should be taken as special leave due to my illness. I therefore had 4 days off work which, without asking I would have used as my time!

Also, might be worth checking if your appointed 1st aider is trained and aware what to do/not to do in the event of a disabling hypo that you can not treat? Do you have Glucagon? This would be in a fridge and the 1st aider would deffo need to know how to use it. (my o/h thought the tablet was frozen liquid and not useable, he forgot the tablet needs to be dissolved!:D)
 
hyper-Suze said:
I enquired with work about attending the DAFNE course and if I shoudl take it as annual leave. They informed me it should be taken as special leave due to my illness. I therefore had 4 days off work which, without asking I would have used as my time!

Also, might be worth checking if your appointed 1st aider is trained and aware what to do/not to do in the event of a disabling hypo that you can not treat? Do you have Glucagon? This would be in a fridge and the 1st aider would deffo need to know how to use it. (my o/h thought the tablet was frozen liquid and not useable, he forgot the tablet needs to be dissolved!:D)
Click to expand...

My old supervisor was a first aider (about 5 or 6 years ago) and he could only dial 999 if I was unable to treat myself. They could be prosecuted if they were to try and administer anything if you were unconscious and certainly couldn't inject without special training.

When you say a tablet, Suze, are you talking about glucagon ?🙂

Mine has always been a powder in a bottle, with water in a syringe and you inject the water in the bottle, shake, and then draw the fluid back into the syringe and inject.

Or have I misunderstood ? :confused:

Rob
 
LOL - I was told my one of our first-aiders that if she found anyone fainted she'd step over them to dial 999 and certainly wouldn't TOUCH another person!

I did say I thought I'd be more likely to check first for breathing even if it were one of the Great Unwashed who smelt .... but not her apparently .....
 
trophywench said:
LOL - I was told my one of our first-aiders that if she found anyone fainted she'd step over them to dial 999 and certainly wouldn't TOUCH another person!

I did say I thought I'd be more likely to check first for breathing even if it were one of the Great Unwashed who smelt .... but not her apparently .....
Click to expand...

What's the point in being a first aider if all you do is call 999? :confused:🙄
 
They can treat minor injuries and assess other medical situations. I sent mine to get me sweets from the vending machine on more than one occasion.

Each refresher course he went on, gave him less and less he could legally do. Fear of litigation, presumably.🙄

Rob
 
Thanks for all of the replies, lots of really useful information!

Cheers
 
First aiders are dependent on how many employees are there.

Under 15 staff and all is required by law is a designated person.. someone who knows where the plasters are and someone who knows how to dial 999.

Over 15 staff and you need a proper first aider, someone who has been on a "proper" course and can administer basic first aid until the ambulance / doctor arrives.

For a large organisation, it is expected that there will be numerous trained first aiders.. I cannot remember the ratio though.. www.hse.co.uk will know.

When I was diagnosed, there was a risk assesment made, which is a legal document, and the findings in my case were that I couldnt work more than 4 hours on my own. This costs the business a fair amount of money but to be fair, they are very good.
 
The only thing I did as a type 2 is make sure everyone I work with knew what to do with a hypo in the unlikely event I had one.
 
When I was first diagnosed HR told me that I had to go to occupational health, unfortunately OH was seen as a negative thing. People often got sent as the company didn't believe they had anything wrong with them. I saw it as a threat to start off with as I thought they were trying to get rid of me. When I did go I was seen by a gentleman who seemed to have no interest and knew very little about diabetes. The company wasted a lot of money sending me as I had already told them of my requirements etc... Luckily I have my own fridge under my desk (which I had before I went to OH) and I have spoken to various people around me who know what to do should something happen to me.
 
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