Wearing Earphones/Headphones

[Kings Norton]

Is there a rule within Royal Mail where we are not allowed to wear earphones or headphones in the office? They say its a fire issue but in my opinion noisy factory's supply workers with ear muffs or ear buds same thing really. can anyone point me in the right direction as some offices can wear them some can't. We all work for the same company why not same rules. I want to see something in writing really. thanks guys.

[postslippete]

No rule as im aware. A good way to avoid communication with your lino i guess


Can't you just put a stereo in for everyone to listen to??

[Kings Norton]

Its just a petty picking thing they are going through to get at one guy that loves his music, but I see many people not signing into the building or signing out like nipping out with absorption surely this is more important than ear phones as the fire service would ask how many people are in the building and they have no figures to show if there was a fire..

[wabbithunta]

They (RM) like to cite H&S rules about this, but most people wear them anyway so they can listen to their own music as they work!

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Is there a rule within Royal Mail where we are not allowed to wear earphones or headphones in the office? They say its a fire issue but in my opinion noisy factory's supply workers with ear muffs or ear buds same thing really. can anyone point me in the right direction as some offices can wear them some can't. We all work for the same company why not same rules. I want to see something in writing really. thanks guys.

the ears muffs thing is really a non starter for an argument as in large noise factories where they are needed they must have a visual alarm like a flashing red light in addition to the alarm sounding, if the dom says you cant wear them for H+S, there is actually very little if anything you can do to over rule him on it, its his office and he is responsible for your h+s at end of the day,

Also he doesnt need to go down the h+s route, he could simply say he doesnt want you to wear them while at work, it is a reasonable request and thats all he has to give you

[Kings Norton]

Few lads in our office that can point out plenty of H &S issues if he wants to play games don't worry about that....

[Kings Norton]

Is there a rule within Royal Mail where we are not allowed to wear earphones or headphones in the office? They say its a fire issue but in my opinion noisy factory's supply workers with ear muffs or ear buds same thing really. can anyone point me in the right direction as some offices can wear them some can't. We all work for the same company why not same rules. I want to see something in writing really. thanks guys.

the ears muffs thing is really a non starter for an argument as in large noise factories where they are needed they must have a visual alarm like a flashing red light in addition to the alarm sounding, if the dom says you cant wear them for H+S, there is actually very little if anything you can do to over rule him on it, its his office and he is responsible for your h+s at end of the day,

Also he doesnt need to go down the h+s route, he could simply say he doesnt want you to wear them while at work, it is a reasonable request and thats all he has to give you

Few lads in our office that can point out plenty of H &S issues if he wants to play games don't worry about that....

[Lounge Lizard]

Is there a rule within Royal Mail where we are not allowed to wear earphones or headphones in the office? They say its a fire issue but in my opinion noisy factory's supply workers with ear muffs or ear buds same thing really. can anyone point me in the right direction as some offices can wear them some can't. We all work for the same company why not same rules. I want to see something in writing really. thanks guys.

Surely there shouldn't be an issue with wearing earphones or headphones in the office.
But out on delivery we must realise that, as public servants, it could adversely affect us hearing whatever the public might have to say to us.

[Kings Norton]

Is there a rule within Royal Mail where we are not allowed to wear earphones or headphones in the office? They say its a fire issue but in my opinion noisy factory's supply workers with ear muffs or ear buds same thing really. can anyone point me in the right direction as some offices can wear them some can't. We all work for the same company why not same rules. I want to see something in writing really. thanks guys.

Surely there shouldn't be an issue with wearing earphones or headphones in the office.
But out on delivery we must realise that, as public servants, it could adversely affect us hearing whatever the public might have to say to us.

I agree out on delivery we should not be wearing them as customers calls us back etc hazard on the road etc....

[islfor]

We have a deaf OPG working in our delivery office & does rural deliveries, its the same as wearing headphones.

[Postie45]

said it before, dont make a big fuss about it, and just keep wearing them on delivery. Managers only react to the issue if people make it a big deal.

[Lounge Lizard]

We have a deaf OPG working in our delivery office & does rural deliveries, its the same as wearing headphones.

No, the deaf OPG doesn't have a choice.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

We have a deaf OPG working in our delivery office & does rural deliveries, its the same as wearing headphones.

Have they fitted a visual alarm for this individual, or have they carried out a risk assessment for his H&S. Even so is your office the same as the OPs - if not the risk assessment in both cases might result in a different outcome.

Even though he is deaf he won't be distracted from SEEING people leaving the building, as a person with headphones and engrossed in music might.

Having said that, as there is no legal right to hear music while your working, so the Manager is quite within his rights, if perhaps a little petty, to ban the use of them. He does not have to explain the reason for the ban as it is a reasonable request, and he probably used the H&S angle to avoid an argument.

[Lounge Lizard]

We have a deaf OPG working in our delivery office & does rural deliveries, its the same as wearing headphones.

Have they fitted a visual alarm for this individual, or have they carried out a risk assessment for his H&S. Even so is your office the same as the OPs - if not the risk assessment in both cases might result in a different outcome.

Even though he is deaf he won't be distracted from SEEING people leaving the building, as a person with headphones and engrossed in music might.

Having said that, as there is no legal right to hear music while your working, so the Manager is quite within his rights, if perhaps a little petty, to ban the use of them. He does not have to explain the reason for the ban as it is a reasonable request, and he probably used the H&S angle to avoid an argument.

[rick184]

In our office we can wear them while sorting or at our prep frames. Not while portering or moving Yorks or on the loading dock.

We have a totally deaf guy. As part of the Fire Risk Assessment he has named buddies who will make sure he bales out if the alarm goes off. Incidentally, he did get a customer complaint when a lady thought he had ignored her when she shouted down the street to him. She was very embarrassed when told he was deaf.