Sacked over hard hat
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Beck & Pollitzer Engineering's dismissal of a driver after he refused to wear a hard hat on a construction site was ruled fair by a Manchester industrial tribunal.
Driver Jack Dronsfield had previous disciplinary warnings and a final written warning after a customer complained about his attitude.
In March 1992 Dronsfield went to a "hard hat site". On arrival he was given safety glasses, a vest and a hard hat but refused to wear the hat, saying that he would wear his own which he had been issued with by the company. Dronsfield failed to wear a hard hat at all times at the site, which broke site rules. A complaint was later made to the company.
After considering Dmnsfield's explanation, the company decided that his conduct was so serious that dismissal was the only way of dealing with him. The tribunal said that they were satisfied that dismissal fell within the range of response of a reasonable employer.