Went to B&Q to buy some kitchen worktops, sawn to length via their free in-shop service. Met by a notice stating they are unable to cut worktops, doors, ... (a few others) due to "health and safety regulations".
Which aspect of H & S is the problem, and to whom?
Is this a local thing (south Manchester) or country-wide?
Where my wife works they're still doing it (sawing worktops that is). It may be that they haven't got enough trained staff or they didn't have the correct safety equipment in the first place, eg. dust extraction, guards etc.
-- Malc
Their saw does not make a 100% neet finish, and its a lot of money for them to waste when you are not happy with the cut.
Doors have nails (on occasions) which will knacker the saw.
Rick
If you mean the Stockport B&Q they've always been awkward with cutting there.
Rick Dipper wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
Yes, possible reasons, but hardly H&S - more like 'economics'.
"G&M" wrote in news:cm6ej7$riq$1 @news6.svr.pol.co.uk:
Actually the Stanley Green, Cheadle Hulme one.
I have no idea why that place keeps going, its so much more expensive than the Stockport B&Q
Rick
My guess would be that a risk assessment has identified the dust from MDF as a hazard to someone with the technical skills of the average B&Q staff.
Colin Bignell
But at our MDF is not on the list and are happy to cut it for you! Jon
Our local B&Q don't cut, full stop. Nor wickes, nor Focus (now Wickes). The only place that did was Homebase but I'm not so sure after their recent "refit". Now seems to be more "lifestyle" than DIY, always was expensive.
MBQ
P'raps because its immediate catchment area (Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, and the like) has plenty of people who aren't hair-trigger price-sensitive. Retail pricing is subject to the same "because they can" principle as dogs licking their privates...
That explains a lot then....I find that branch is particularly useless when it comes to things like keeping stuff in stock and (most irritatingly) never having enough tills open.
Tim
Our local B&Q won't cut MDF, they say it's a health hazard. As their saw is within the public access area of the store I can see their point. I don't know about worktops, but they might well be reluctant to cut lots of laminated weetabix since it soon blunts the blade.
I wouldn't trust them to cut it right anyway - in my experience they pay scant attention to accuracy.
David
That one's useless for everything, though slightly better than Ashton. Try the new one at Trafford.
The technical skills would be around zero for buy and spew, so who, in buy and queue, would be up to producing a risk assessment that would make any sense?
Dave
Jo wrote in news:Xns9594CA9C86803FlSxxx@130.133.1.4:
Answering my own question, it seems to be a local Cheadle Hulme branch policy. The Stockport B&Q Warehouse cut the worktops for me OK. The guy doing the work said he didn't know why Ch Hulme doesn't - certainly nothing to do with the equipment that's installed there.
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