Kick stools can be dangerous. In a legal case in 2000 a bank was held liable for being in breach of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 SI 1992/3004 when an employee tripped over a kick stool that had been moved into her path. The employee suffered an injury which was described as "sadly disabling." The regulations require a workplace floor to be kept free from obstructions as far as is reasonably practicable. This does not mean that kick stools can't or shouldn't be used, of course, but people have to be aware of the dangers. Damages were awarded against the employer.
Laurence
Laurence W. Bebbington
Team Leader (Law)/IS Copyright Officer
Hallward Library
Information Services
The University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
Tel: 0115 95 14568
>>> Caroline Brick <[log in to unmask]> 12/10/05 11:05:10 >>>
Dear Lislinkers,
A health and safety query for you all: can anyone refer me to evidence or assessments of the safety or otherwise of kick stools in a library context?
We are keen to obtain one as we think that they would proffer the following advantages:
* They can be moved around in a hands-free manner - useful when one's arms are full of books.
* They provide a larger, and therefore more stable, platform than a ladder rung.
* They can be used as a seat when accessing low shelves.
We have been advised that kick stools are unsafe, but as we are keen to acquire one for the above reasons, we should be glad to have evidence (either of safeness or unsafeness) with which to consider our case.
Many thanks,
Ms Caroline Brick, Assistant Librarian
Horniman Museum
Tel: +44 (0)20 8699 1872 ext 109
Fax: +44 (0)20 8291 5506
http://www.horniman.ac.uk
Horniman Public Museum & Public Park Trust. Registered Office 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ, UK. Company Registration 2456393. Registered Charity No. 802725
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