Ice/Water Policy

At a place I used to work the crew chiefs had a company credit card that was used only for gas and ice purchases.

It is not the responsibility of an employer to provide water or ice to an employe, Maybe the cooler is now required in some areas, but the crew should be taking care of it and keeping it useful and sanitary. Anyone who can't carry a canteen and prepare for hot conditions, is probably someone I don't need on any crew.
jud

I'd look into getting an ice making machine. Maybe on Ebay? if the crew fills up an igloo cooler a day X how many crews... could easily pay for itself, let alone time lost goofing around with receipts lost (been there, done that) And usually, enough ice melts during the day you don't have to add any water.

AND, it would end any whining about not having ice or water on board.

That's old school thinking...people being responsible for themselves. Silly you.

The unions and OSHA take care of that for you now. All you have to do is send them part of your paycheck.

Now-a-days the employer is responsible for providing cool water and shade for their workers (TDD is laughing in his chair next to his collection of swords).

Seems like from a safety perspective, the employer chould be providing the water and the 5-gallon container to hold it. Seems like ice is an extra that the employee could get for themselves.

Again from a safety perspective, the employer should definately be educating the employees about the dangers surrounding not keeping yourself hydrated.

...goes right along with all the other safety training that should be going on.

wow, seems like an awfully small price to pay to keep your crew safe and happy and working and MAKING MONEY. Sheesh, some people must think that employees don't make people money. This is a no-brainer.

and, if you get the ice machine, you can make margaritas for everyone in the office when the field crews head out!! bonus!

In the UK access to tea when at work is almost a human right, certainly more fundamental than a mere policy! Tea is required in hot or cold weather. I've worked on sites where everything had to stop morning and afternoon for tea breaks, even if it involved an lengthy overland trip to the 'tea hut'.

I worked with a German crew erecting wind turbines in hot and windy weather once, their drink of choice was lemonade shandy, about 0.5% alcohol!

We used to provide a water cooler of tap water and ice. We have a freezer in the shop and crew makes own ice each day. A few years ago because of bad tasting water we switched to bottled water. Crew still puts bottle water in same cooler with ice. We get water for the office coolers delivered and the same company will supply bottle water, so once a week we get bottled water delivered to the office. Time of year determines how much we get.

I tend to go overboard to make crews happy.

I have a water well.

All that is supplied is the 5gal cooler and an ample supply of some of the best cool drinking water available.

If they want ice, I will provide gal jugs full of well water frozen from the freezer or the can provide their own.

B-)

>Ice/Water Policy

Single malt - a splash of spring water only

Blended - on the rocks

The crews I was on typically had to provide their own ice and water for a while. I do believe the companies eventually bought at least a 5 gallon thermos for each truck. Not sure if the company paid for ice or not. The head of surveys kept making "noises" about getting an ice machine but never did.

It would seem to be a perk that would not cost that much while going a long way in making happier crews, especially those who may well be earning considerably less (the lowly rodman)than others. What's that old saying about a happy worker doing a better job or something like that?

Filling up a canteen or insulated jug does not require much effort or cost. Provide your own, if you get sick because you chose not to keep it clean, your problem, I don't need the liability.
Ice water is a poor and dangerous thing to drink when hot, it shocks your system if you drink as much as you should, the ice water people seldom drink much, they spend a lot of time sipping and never get enough water quickly. When out in the heat working I want cool water, I might drink a quart or more quickly and go back to work, can't do that with ice water.
jud

A company I previously worked for purchased a freezer and the truck that delivers bags of ice to convenience stores made a weekly delivery to our office.

My current company provides water and reimburses for bags of ice.

Ice is required.

Providing warm water is illegal.

I usually provide my own without ice because it usually isn't hot but we had a project in the desert at 106 and they provided ice cold water bottles. You would be surprised how much it takes to stay hydrated and safe in those conditions.

Work place safety rules came about because employees have died or been injured. Making employers responsible for workplace safety has worked and cold water is definitely a safety item.

I drink almost any whiskey neat.

I'm reading this book by Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, 'Letters from Hawaii' about his early years in the Sandwidge Islands as they were called back then. Reminded me of a little story he relates of shipping ice from Sitka Alaska to Hawaii, where it (was) worth quite a lot of money. The sailors became so accustomed to drinking the icy melt water that they refused to sail afterwards without this being provided for in their contract!

Seems to me anything you can do to keep your guys happily hydrated and thinking clearly in hot weather is a good idea. Then again you can lead a horse to water but...

I took the brake pads off out trucks and cut holes in the floorboard.

Back in the day if Fred Flintstone was man enough to stop a vehicle with his bare feet, then these coddled nancy-boys with their fancy college degrees should be able to do the same.

Water, all you want. Ice? Bring a few frozen bottles, in the lunch box. I have sensitive teeth, and don't want much cold water.

N