Does anyone know what Massachusetts law or regulation (if any) ... ?

[bicker]

Does anyone know what Massachusetts law or regulation (if any) requires drinking water in the workplace?

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

Quick search brought me this which looks like there are OSHA requirements:

http://blogs.hcpro.com/osha/2009/03/ask-the-expert—tap-or-bottled-water/

 

[bicker]

Thanks! Guess I was Googling the wrong words.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

No problem. I tried a few word combos too. Are you the employee without water or the employer trying to see what is required?

 

[dakcp2001]

I think bottled water in a vending machine should be fine. I think as a courtesy free bottled water would be nice, but I wouldnt expect my employer to provide it. I would bring my own just in case! We are after all, adults, right? I can't believe how many people were throwing fits about school being opened. I guess there would be just as many throwing fits if it were closed.

 

[PatsMom]

I believe the OP lives in Mass and on my trip to Waltham MA on Sunday, I learned that in some areas they have a boil water order and a water shortage. When I requested just water with my meal at the restaurant we visited, I was told it was not available. I could purchase bottled if I wanted to. So I would expect the question has something to do with the shortage and the boil water order.

 

[dakcp2001]

I believe the OP lives in Mass and on my trip to Waltham MA on Sunday, I learned that in some areas they have a boil water order and a water shortage. When I requested just water with my meal at the restaurant we visited, I was told it was not available. I could purchase bottled if I wanted to. So I would expect the question has something to do with the shortage and the boil water order.

I live in the boil water area as well! I am just sort of surprised how some people are acting like it is the end of the world. Fights at the supermarket, people hoarding cases of bottled water, it is getting a bit out of hand. We just boiled some water here, no need to panic.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

I live in the boil water area as well! I am just sort of surprised how some people are acting like it is the end of the world. Fights at the supermarket, people hoarding cases of bottled water, it is getting a bit out of hand. We just boiled some water here, no need to panic.

I do too, but I think the news is blowing that bit of it out of proportion...I have seen no problems getting water, no panic anywhere, just not a big deal. But if you watch the news, they need to "get a story"...My in-laws live elsewhere in the state and called us panicked FOR US (after seeing the news)that we would have trouble getting water and we could stay with them...Um, really the only difference is I boil a pot of water in the morning for household use & the kids are bringing an extra bottle to school...still have toilets, can still shower, do laundry, etc. Bought 4 cases of bottled yesterday morning and had no trouble getting it. Relax people.

 

[Evi]

I honestly think people should be embarrassed about how they're behaving about water. People you can boil it and its safe and if not go buy some but don't buy all of it you need to share. OMG I couldn't believe the people in the supermarkets on Saturday 1 person with a carriage full of water yelling at people who are asking for 1 case and the shelves are empty. I purchased 2 cases of water prior to all of this I'm down to 1 case I haven't gone out to run looking for water. while at the market watching the mayhem I even thought heck no I'd rather boil and filter at home. I boiled it for washing dishes, washing my face, brushing my teeth. I'm ok. I'm alive. I can't even begin to imagine what would happen if this were more serious. Buy a rain barrel so you can follow water bans use that water to water your lawn. I have 2 rain barrels and the smallest yard but you know what I almost never turn on the faucet to water lawn or little garden. keep a few gallons in the basement just in case if your paranoid so you don't have to stampede the markets like a wild person in an emergency only making it worse.

I also think the coast guard giving out water in Quincy and Belmont was ridiculous. Why are we giving out water? When you can boil it. Or you can still find it on store shelves. Why in middle/upper class communities instead of sending water to the poorest neighborhoods where we know they can't afford to buy water? It really made me sad to see this on the news. I worked in the inner city with youth and know there are children out there who's parents either don't know better or perhaps don't speak enough English to have received the information in a timely manner. (please no bashing) But I think we are responsible for all our communities and all our citizens and residents not just some of them.

As for people complaining about having to buy water this is an emergency it clearly says you can boil it. If you want to buy it just buy it. I've seen water everywhere for sale today. Stop making this more serious then it is.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I believe the OP lives in Mass and on my trip to Waltham MA on Sunday, I learned that in some areas they have a boil water order and a water shortage. When I requested just water with my meal at the restaurant we visited, I was told it was not available. I could purchase bottled if I wanted to. So I would expect the question has something to do with the shortage and the boil water order.

That's not cool. We had a water main break or something when I worked at Disney's vero beach resort many moons ago. Guests were provided free bottled water on request. Now sure--that is a hotel.

But if the regular water is unavailable, I'm not certain why that would be the customer's problem in a restaurant.

As for boiling water for your own home....I guess I don't see the big deal and why people are behaving like the end of the world is here.

 

[kwelch10377]

I think it is funny how way blown out of proportion this whole thing has gotten, it really isn't a big deal to just boil your water and then put it in the fridge. I usually don't drink tap water anyway. I always go to Target and get the big bottles of Smart Water to drink at work during the week and luckily I went on Sat morning to get some before all this hopla started.

I think the only issue this has caused for me is that yesterday I was dying for some Dunkin Donuts Ice Tea, I walked down to the closest one and it was closed Totally didn't think about the fact that they need water to make most of what they have.

 

[cepmom]

the whole thing is out of control. I drove through Quincy this morning and saw tons of cars lined up on the side of the road waiting in line to get free water. Really? Why can't you just boil the water? Or the markets being wiped out of bottled water? How about you drive to one of the towns not affected by the water main break if you must have bottled water? People are stupid sometimes

 

[bicker]

Are you the employee without water or the employer trying to see what is required?

It just came up as a few of us were walking into the office. What we didn't know is that the office manager arrived, this morning, with a number of jugs of bottled water, so our office was in compliance.

 

[kwelch10377]

the whole thing is out of control. I drove through Quincy this morning and saw tons of cars lined up on the side of the road waiting in line to get free water. Really? Why can't you just boil the water? Or the markets being wiped out of bottled water? How about you drive to one of the towns not affected by the water main break if you must have bottled water? People are stupid sometimes

Oh they already have driven to towns not affected. My friends parents live on the Cape and they said alot of stores there are wiped out of water.

 

[cepmom]

Oh they already have driven to towns not affected. My friends parents live on the Cape and they said alot of stores there are wiped out of water.

I jsut read in todays paper that stores in Abington, Cohasset, Scituate all had a good supply of bottled water. If you're (not you, I mean people needing bottled water) in Quincy then a quick drive down 3A to Cohasset would be easier than waiting in that insane line I saw today!

 

[KAMLEM]

I don't see why it's the employer's responsibility. If you want to drink water during the day just bring it in with you.

 

[bicker]

If you want to drink water during the day just bring it in with you.

I suppose the same could be said for desk chairs.

The point is that there are certain minimum standards for workplaces set forth as a reflection of our society's consensus view of what is fair and safe and respectful of the value of work. Fresh water is one of those.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I suppose the same could be said for desk chairs.

The point is that there are certain minimum standards for workplaces set forth as a reflection of our society's consensus view of what is fair and safe and respectful of the value of work. Fresh water is one of those.

Depending on the working conditions--I'm not sure I would agree. If beverages are available for purchase, even if bottled--then that would be sufficient.

I'm not sure it is mandatory that it is required for free.

I mean--I remember in my old workplace--the water fountain water...meh. So I'd BYOB (non-alcoholic of course)--just as I brought my own lunch. Now if suddenly the water fountain was broken--do I really have recourse against my employer? Fine line there. I'm not sure that I would have recourse to demand free liquid refreshment.

To me--water is not like a desk chair...unless it was a work environment where frequent hydration is necessary to ward of illness (i.e. construction workers). But even then--as long as it were accessible, I'm not sure it is mandatory that it would be free for your consumption.

It makes me curious as to where you work and why you feel the employer is responsible for your hydration/nourishment. Allowing you to have it is one thing. Demanding they provide it is certainly another.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

OSHA requirements say that all employers must provided potable water. If you are under a boil water advisory there is no rule or law that I could find that says that they employer could not just boil the water and then put it in containers for cooling and drinking.

I think it's a little silly that employers "must" provide water to begin with, it's nice but does there really need to be a regulation for this, can't we just bring our own beverages? Like a PP said, we are adults after all.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Occupational-OSHA-Environmental-1417/Bathroom-Sink-Drinking-Water.htm

 

[bicker]

If beverages are available for purchase, even if bottled--then that would be sufficient.

That's certainly an interesting take on it. I can tell you though that when I was an auditor it was always ensured that water was provided, apparently as per OSHA 1910.141 (though it was so long ago, I don't really remember the source of the standard), which makes no allowance for charging for the water. To be fair, I wasn't an OSHA auditor, so perhaps they applied their own rules less stringently than we applied them.

And even though my work brought me to many foreign countries, in addition to the entire United States, I don't recall a single workplace that did not have drinking water available, for free, for workers.

I'm not sure it is mandatory that it is required for free. I mean--I remember in my old workplace--the water fountain water...meh.

Uh, tap water is absolutely acceptable, with regard to the regulation. It simply says that the the water provided must comply with the federal drinking water standards, and tap water must also comply with those standards.

Now if suddenly the water fountain was broken--do I really have recourse against my employer?

Water fountains are not the only source of drinking water ... if they provide paper cups, water from the taps in the rest rooms would satisfy.

To me--water is not like a desk chair...

Water is required by the regulation. I'm not so sure that a desk chair is, in the general case.

It makes me curious as to where you work and why you feel the employer is responsible for your hydration/nourishment.

It has nothing to do with where I work. It's the law.