The Peninsula 24 Hour Advice Service once received a call from one of its clients, a scaffolding company. The caller asked how to manage a situation with one of their probationers. When asked what the problem was it transpired the probationer concerned was scared of heights. The caller explained that the young man had known he was scared of heights before he started and had thought that taking this job would help him face and overcome his fears. He had been working for them for four weeks but things had not really improved. Peninsula's Adviser asked if the employee was going up the scaffolding and whether he was carrying out his duties. The caller confirmed that he was, but he was terrified when he went up. The Adviser thought that it was quite commendable that the employee was facing up to his fears and asked whether the manager might consider giving him more time to build his up confidence. The caller said that was not possible. Though she felt sorry for the young man, the problem was that she had received many complaints about him from his co-workers. Apparently, he was so scared when he was on the scaffold that he physically shook with fear. This had been causing the structure to sway considerably and his colleagues all felt that he was posing a risk to their safety! Peninsula's Adviser had to agree with the client. If the young man's shaking was putting his co-workers at risk then he could not be allowed to continue. Sadly, there was no choice but to fail his probationary period due to his 'unsatisfactory performance' in the role. (Peninsula did consider the disability aspect, but erecting scaffolding only at ground level was not a reasonable adjustment!) This article is reproduced with the kind permission of Peninsula Business Services Limited www.peninsula-uk.com,uan Peninsula is the UK's leading Employment and Health and Safety consultancy and for more information about this article or the services they offer, contact Andrew Hennessey on 07976 083549 [email protected].