Can Someone Explain To Me Why Men Cannot Wear Shorts On A Building Site But It's Ok To Wear A Skirt?

[youngmafbog]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5837467/Ingenious-brickies-wear-summery-skirts-dresses-health-safety-rules.html

[jackthehat]

\\\Their choice to wear women's clothing is protected under gender equality laws ///

[Mamyalynne]

It may have been useful if the journalist had asked that question.

Not sure if anything has changed recently since this was written.

https://www.alcumusgroup.com/blog/june-2014/5-health-and-safety-at-work-myths-busted


I can see that is working with certain substances protection for the lower limbs may be necessary, but that's all.

[Zacs-Master]

I think 'on the site' is being stretched:
'women working in offices on the same site'
I'm pretty sure if a woman tried to work as a brickie with a skirt, the appropriate HSE guidlines on cuts / infection and sunburn would apply.

[Voltage]

what a crazy mad world we live in !

[woofgang]

idiots

[237SJ]

I think it's hilarious. I was wondering if they ever got wolf whistled and apparently they have

[Mamyalynne]

It would be interesting to know how many female construction workers wear a skirt or frock on site.

Maybe they choose a loose cotton jean or trouser instead.

[youngmafbog]

But wearing a skirt gives no protection so why one and not the other?

If a company wishes to project an image then thats fine, say so, dont blame H&S 'rules'.

Barmy if you ask me, no wonder the nation is going in the direction it is. Far too many jobsworths.

[Old_Geezer]

They can't wear shorts because the sight of their legs would inflame the passions of the local secretaries who then wouldn't be able to control themselves. But the gender thing is a loophole. Have sales of cola to secretaries gone up as a result ?

[youngmafbog]

Mammy, only one I have ever met was wearing shorts.

And the girl delivering the cement in the pre-mix was too!

[Mamyalynne]

If the rule is no shorts, for safety or company image it should apply to all on site workers.

Unsure about those making deliveries but point taken.

[Zacs-Master]

'But wearing a skirt gives no protection so why one and not the other?'

The wearing of shorts is discouraged by the HSE because it leaves the legs vulnerable to cuts which can easily become infected and due to sunburn (melanoma cases have apparently increased rapidly recently).
I'm sure a woman who wanted to wear a skirt on a building site would come under the same guidelines.

There is no direct correlation between a woman wearing a skirt in an office on a building site and a man doing a manual job wearing shorts.

You appear to have been taken in by another DM spin story.

[aelmpvw]

it would cause some consternation at a&e if one the poor lads had an accident on site

[youngmafbog]

There is no HSE rule for wearing shorts. I have them on today and I will be going back out in a mo to mix up. If I want to get a tan then that is my prerogative. I often take my top off too, again my prerogative. But then I work for myself.

This is just jobsworths yet again abusing the HSE directives.

[anneasquith]

It's hot weather it's going to be hot at work, obviously shorts are unsafe . Get back to work :-)

[youngmafbog]

"You appear to have been taken in by another DM spin story. "

Of course it never happens does it - silly me.

[Zacs-Master]

There are no 'rules'. There are guidelines. It's up to employers to interpret those rules but they may be in trouble should someone become seriously ill by not following them.

[Mamyalynne]

There's nothing new about these types of protests, goodness we even had them at school when boys couldn't loosen their ties in summer and I'm 64.

[Zacs-Master]

Seems more of a publicity stunt than a protest, Mamya. Wouldn't surprise me if they'd been 'incentivised' to do it.

[ummmm]

It's been years since people have been allowed to wear shorts on site. Or take their tops off.