Health and Safety - apparently...

[zazen999]

Afternoon all.

Just had to share this one - I thought I had heard them all by now.

Went to the shops this morning [the cleaner was in so I usually pop out for a bit and do some shopping]. Well, I didn't go to my usual shop, at which I use boxes to pack my goods and then use the boxes for mulch at the lottie.

So, I had to use 2 bags - I do reuse them but still don't like the waste.

I asked at customer services why they didn't supply boxes for customers to use.

She said that they stopped doing this 2 years ago because of health and safety. I asked what could possibly be the reason, and it is 'in case of someone coming in with a lighter and setting fire to them'. I did point out that people could do that to any paper products and she said she knew that.

I asked if it was the case that not supplying them meant customers had to pay the £1 a bag to counteract the guilt of using carriers and she just looked blankly at me; and said if I went there again - to ask at customer services and they would supply a box for me.

Health and safety - what a load of slugswallop. Didn't the hessian bags start being supplied about - hmm - 2 years ago???

Another reason to stay with the Co-op.

What a waste my NEBOSH qualification is when faced with this sort of nonsense - makes a mockery of proper H&S. If it is profit driven then at least have the honesty to say so.

[BrideXIII]

well my local co-op is no better, no boxes, and plastic carriers have now been removed to under the tills so that you HAVE to ask for one, making you feel guilty for not buying a hessian one.

Now I am not a fan of plastic carriers, but they do have their uses, and I hate being penalised for wanting to pop in unplanned and buy something.

[marigold007]

Will somebody please tell me what exactly is a Co-op?! Is that like Lidl or somethin'? I just push my trolley around and fill it up. No need for boxes or bags.

[zazen999]

The Co-operative - good for everyone

I'm sure you have them down south...there used to be one in Chatham high street.

Supposedly ethical and local.

The issue is the supply of carriers versus bringing your own; when they have boxes that can be reused and are good for the lottie/garden/composter and they just chuck them out.

[SarzWix]

Nearly every supermarket seems to do this now - boxes are automatically flattened as soon as they're emptied onto the shelves. I was told in Morrisons that it's because piles of boxes at the end of the checkouts is a Health & Safety risk. It's the same in our Co-op, if you want the boxes for anything you have to 'put in a request' for them the evening before you want them, and collect them before 11am!!! Otherwise they're 'in the way' and get flattened!

[zazen999]

Nearly every supermarket seems to do this now - boxes are automatically flattened as soon as they're emptied onto the shelves. I was told in Morrisons that it's because piles of boxes at the end of the checkouts is a Health & Safety risk. It's the same in our Co-op, if you want the boxes for anything you have to 'put in a request' for them the evening before you want them, and collect them before 11am!!! Otherwise they're 'in the way' and get flattened!

Aye, the amount of people killed or maimed by boxes was far too high - thank god they nipped that epidemic in the bud.

What a crazy world we inhabit. This is why I don't like leaving the house. I feel slightly half the time.

[shirlthegirl43]

Not sure if all co-ops are the same but ours supplies carrier bags that can be put in the compost

[SlugLobber]

Tesco has boxes under the end of the till. They will also go and get one if you ask. I thought it was marvellous when I first saw that, as it's sooooo much easier using boxes rather than bags! Don't normally like Tesco, but this scored brownie points with me!

[SarzWix]

What a crazy world we inhabit. This is why I don't like leaving the house. I feel slightly half the time.

I know that feeling

Not sure if all co-ops are the same but ours supplies carrier bags that can be put in the compost

Ours are 'degradable', but not 'compostable' - they just disintegrate into smaller pieces of plastic!

Tesco has boxes under the end of the till. They will also go and get one if you ask. I thought it was marvellous when I first saw that, as it's sooooo much easier using boxes rather than bags! Don't normally like Tesco, but this scored brownie points with me!

Our Tesco doesn't, but it's only a small one & I don't think they'd have room.

The only supermarket where they have boxes available for use is Netto, and I don't go there often as it's in 'the other town' which I avoid at all costs!

[marigold007]

Thanks Zazen! Apparently there is one close to me!

[HayleyB]

Blasted elfs, they're everywhere now, they have something to do with Brussels and I thought sprouts were nice.......

Most other countries ignore the elves but over here the elves are those that must be obeyed to the very letter of their law and we must not cross an elf or we may get hurt

[Shortie]

I asked what could possibly be the reason, and it is 'in case of someone coming in with a lighter and setting fire to them'.

When our local store stopped putting out their boxes years ago we asked why and were also told it was health and safety, but their reason made more sense. They used to line them up long the exit wall behind the tills and they said in the event of a fire they were part blocking the fire escape and could cause an accident in the rush to escape (people tripping over them etc)

Maybe that's the real reason and the CSA didn't have a clue so made something up on the spot?

[lynda66]

i've bought a granny trolley on wheels, son was dead impressed, and now walks 5 paces behind me whenever i take it out

[zazen999]

i've bought a granny trolley on wheels, son was dead impressed, and now walks 5 paces behind me whenever i take it out

I'm literally rolling on the floor chuckling my little heart out...isn't that called 'bad parenting'!!!

[zazen999]

Thanks Zazen! Apparently there is one close to me!

If you do start shopping there, sign up for the dividend card; you get £ at the end of the year for all co-op products bought.