Health & Safety Laws

Under Occupational Health and Safety legislation the bank has an obligation to ensutre a safe and healthy workplace. 

Inadequate staffing levels:

• contribute to stress, burnout and high staff turnover
• expose staff to unsafe work practices
• increase risk of abuse from customers
• increase security risks including robbery and potentially serious assault

 
Some Tips on Safe Staffing

• All bank branches should have a regular health and safety inspections which should include an assessment of safe staffing levels.
• Staffing levels will depend on the size of the branch but as a general rule branches should not be open for business if there are less than three staff working.
• There should never be less than two people on the counter.
• Staff should always be in eyesight of their colleagues.

Employees also have obligation under health and safety laws to work in a safe manner and not expose themselves unsafe situations.

If you are concerned that understaffing is exposing staff to health and safety risks you should advise your Manager and Occupational Health and Safety Rep and the FSU.