John Hannett - Usdaw General Secretary says: “Up and down the country Usdaw members are making every effort to get to work and as a result many businesses are able to operate a close to normal service.
 
“I am sure employers will join with me in saying to workers they must ensure they have a safe journey to work and if it is too dangerous to travel they should not take a risk and talk to their manager about the options available.
 
“Any Usdaw member who has been particularly badly affected and faces losing pay or having to use up large chunks of their annual leave should contact their rep immediately.”
 
Usdaw advice on cold weather working 
 
Health and safety regulations state that the temperature of all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable, with a recommended minimum of 16°C or 13°C if employees are doing physical work.
 
Usdaw recommends the provision of temporary heating, the relaxation of dress codes, extra breaks for people to warm up and the rotation of work to prevent staff spending too long in cold areas. Winter clothing is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and should be provided wherever there is a risk from cold temperatures.
 
Usdaw health and safety reps have legal powers to investigate and take up issues with management. Some employers have been prosecuted for breaching temperature regulations.

Employers should have a weather policy in place that sets out what is expected of staff and what to do when snow and ice prevents them from getting to work. Usdaw advises members to follow advice from the Met Office on whether or not it is safe to travel. If you don’t think it is safe to attempt the journey, follow your employer’s procedure about contacting work to let them know you won’t be in. Ask your Usdaw rep if you’re unsure about the policy where you work. If you do decide to travel, the Government provides advice on driving in winter weather.
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 28% over the decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion