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HEALTH & SAFETY


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I've just read through all the posts on WEBBER and it reminded me of a thread that was on here a couple of months ago.

 

The thing is accidents happen all to often yet people pooh poof health and safety rules.

 

Webber,s eyes were saved because he was wearing Safety Glasses.

You would not believe how frequently I have to remind people to use the most basic protection and PPE is the last resort.

It's bad practice that causes accidents, sometimes with luck the PPE saves some injury or at least reduces it.

 

Propane does not ignite itself, nails don't go through boots on their own and bricks don't launch themselves onto someones head.

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Yeah...Tell me about it,my company is out sourcing maintenance, and we have contractors turn up with their 'generic' paperwork regarding method statements and risk assessments, and then go off and ignore every regulation. I am not looking forward to the day I find a dead contractor on site, then the bodily waste will hit the rotating appliance big time.

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Properly applied it does save lives, as much as I admit it can be a pain in the RS i think if it's applied properly with a bit of common sense then it works...

 

just look at the Oil and gas sector

 

I can honestly say I won't pick up a strimmer in the garden without safety glasses now...

 

and I usually have them around for chainsaws but to be honest sometimes forget!

 

Due to the last medical I had telling me my left ear hearing is getting worse I wear ear defenders alot more (lawn mower etc)

 

... always try to hold handrails

 

...and never hold a bread roll when cutting...

 

I have to say the majority of the above have been adopted through the HSE culture applied in my place of work...

 

Gixer..

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"never hold a bread roll while cutting",

 

What.. you put in a vice ?

 

M.

 

I think he means don't do it like my wife does and hold the bread roll in your cupped hand while slicing down through the bread towards your hand, the number of times I have to tell to stop, you'd think she didn't want her fingers.

 

:blink:

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I've just read through all the posts on WEBBER and it reminded me of a thread that was on here a couple of months ago.

 

The thing is accidents happen all to often yet people pooh poof health and safety rules.

 

Webber,s eyes were saved because he was wearing Safety Glasses.

You would not believe how frequently I have to remind people to use the most basic protection and PPE is the last resort.

It's bad practice that causes accidents, sometimes with luck the PPE saves some injury or at least reduces it.

 

Propane does not ignite itself, nails don't go through boots on their own and bricks don't launch themselves onto someones head.

 

 

So spend millions, employ idiots to check, JUST IN CASE they do :blink:

 

 

Most clients are quick to say that, but what they fail to remember and take into account is that when a company has very involved safety rules that I as a contractor have to put in place up and above my own polices there is a cost to bear for which many don't like paying for.

 

I have the added pleasure on many a occasion when a client says they want this that and other ten times over and I tell them the final price they dont like it.

 

At the end of the day someone has to pay for it and thats not going to be me. My work is quite bespoke and there is only three specialist contractors of the sort in the uk so I am fortunate that 99 times out of a hundred I am in the driving seat.

 

I am all for a safe working enviroment, fully support that all the way, but what I dont support is anal safety officers who spend 10 years as a blanket stacker, do a NEBOSH course and still dont know **** from clay.

 

I did the NEBOSH course just so I could stand on the same level as all of them when they came to the forfront and I have to say that many of the inhouse safety practicioners that exist out there are totally unqualified to undertake the role.

 

I have just pased a million man hours with no reportable events, no lost time accidents a have a postive, self cultured safety conscious workforce without half the pomp most of these blue chip companies proport.

 

Health and safety in many companies equal one thing to many of the uk workforce nowadays and that in a nutshell adds up to;

 

'Lets stop the job it ain't safe'

'Get him off site he did'nt wash his hands after going to the toilet'

He has'nt done his pre job brief,pre job risk assessment,post risk assessment, blah blah blah and the list goes on.

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Health and Safety at Work is an essential thing and is credible all the time is being handled by real professionals.

 

Health and Safety as applied to the General Public is also important, but it can start to get silly when its taken into the areas of pantomime by poorly, or untrained, jobsworths.

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Starlight32

 

I'm sorry you feel a lot of Safety Officers / Advisors are anal and only spent 10 years as balanket stackers, I happen to be a Health and Safety Advisor and I have never stacked any blankets in my life in fact the wife can't even get me to make the bed :lol:

 

All joking aside, before moving into a position as a Health and Safety Adivsor a few years ago, I spent over 20 years in the construction industry as a tradesman, so you could say I'm now a poacher turned gamekeeper!! and I have read the book, seen the film, and worn the Tee shirt B) so please don't tar us all with the same brush. :P If in your business you have come across some who are poorly qualified then it will be to the detrement of the company who has employed them if it all goes wrong and they end up in court. The court of law will be where it is all judged if all goes wrong, a good solicitor or Barrister for the prosecution will rip them apart and anyone who thinks they know what they are talking about, if they don't.

 

The reason for employing a Health and Safety specialist is so you as the employer get competent advice on how to comply with all of the relevent Health and Safety regulations during the undertaking of your work, this will hopefully ensure the safety of your employees and the safety of those who may be effected by the work your company carries out.

 

Your company must be working on the right lines if you have reached a million man hours without incident, :blink: but don't become complacent, when this happens it is most likely time for things to go wrong. The NEBOSH cert is a good grounding for Health and Safety but any Health and Safety Advisors / Officers worth their salt will also be working towards (or already have) further qualifications such as NEBOSH Diploma, NVQ4, or a Degree in Health and Safety and will also be, or working towards becomming Chartered Members of IOSH or other equivalent body.

 

Health and Safety at work is very important (well I would say that) but gets blamed on too many occasions for the no win no fee culture we currently live in, it is not H&S who sue employers for injuries, (the HSE will prosecute for a breach in the regualtions) the claims for monies are civil claims. Some of these claims are very genuine and some are not and are taken up buy some unscrupulous solicitors (and sometimes claimants) out there on no win no fee contract who will try to sue for a broken finger nail if possible, just to get money. As for accidents at work, if employers comply with the regulations and take the advice they get from the H&S advisors more seriously there would be fewer fines for breaches of the regualtions and fewer accidents in the workplace which in turn this would reduce civil claims against the employers and reduce their insurance premiums.

 

Remember, The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 means exactly that "AT WORK". :good: Stay Safe :good:

Edited by KPV4
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Can any of you H&S advisors tell me, can a company appoint a person, with zero training, as health and safety representative for that company. When I say zero training I mean absolutely zilch.

 

Thanks

 

 

There is nothing to stop them as long as they say he/she is a competent person, but they would be fool hardy to do so

 

and that person should think very hard about taking this on.

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Starlight32

 

I'm sorry you feel a lot of Safety Officers / Advisors are anal and only spent 10 years as balanket stackers, I happen to be a Health and Safety Advisor and I have never stacked any blankets in my life in fact the wife can't even get me to make the bed :lol:

 

All joking aside, before moving into a position as a Health and Safety Adivsor a few years ago, I spent over 20 years in the construction industry as a tradesman, so you could say I'm now a poacher turned gamekeeper!! and I have read the book, seen the film, and worn the Tee shirt B) so please don't tar us all with the same brush. :P If in your business you have come across some who are poorly qualified then it will be to the detrement of the company who has employed them if it all goes wrong and they end up in court. The court of law will be where it is all judged if all goes wrong, a good solicitor or Barrister for the prosecution will rip them apart and anyone who thinks they know what they are talking about, if they don't.

 

The reason for employing a Health and Safety specialist is so you as the employer get competent advice on how to comply with all of the relevent Health and Safety regulations during the undertaking of your work, this will hopefully ensure the safety of your employees and the safety of those who may be effected by the work your company carries out.

 

Your company must be working on the right lines if you have reached a million man hours without incident, :blink: but don't become complacent, when this happens it is most likely time for things to go wrong. The NEBOSH cert is a good grounding for Health and Safety but any Health and Safety Advisors / Officers worth their salt will also be working towards (or already have) further qualifications such as NEBOSH Diploma, NVQ4, or a Degree in Health and Safety and will also be, or working towards becomming Chartered Members of IOSH or other equivalent body.

 

Health and Safety at work is very important (well I would say that) but gets blamed on too many occasions for the no win no fee culture we currently live in, it is not H&S who sue employers for injuries, (the HSE will prosecute for a breach in the regualtions) the claims for monies are civil claims. Some of these claims are very genuine and some are not and are taken up buy some unscrupulous solicitors (and sometimes claimants) out there on no win no fee contract who will try to sue for a broken finger nail if possible, just to get money. As for accidents at work, if employers comply with the regulations and take the advice they get from the H&S advisors more seriously there would be fewer fines for breaches of the regualtions and fewer accidents in the workplace which in turn this would reduce civil claims against the employers and reduce their insurance premiums.

 

Remember, The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 means exactly that "AT WORK". :good: Stay Safe :good:

 

 

 

"Ditto the above"

 

Just a thought

 

" I would not want to be the one who has to go to your house and tell your wife and kids your will not be coming home"

 

because somebody thought H/S was a waste of time.

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Get Ken Woodward to visit your site

 

we had a visit on our construction site from ken and i must say it has been the most memorable of safety days i have ever attended. He was a fantastic guy with a tragic story and it really does show how important ppe is. There are plenty of the old lads on site that wont use it as they say "i've never worn a hard hat before and won't start not" however the new generation is having it drummed into them from the start and all think wearing gloves glasses vest hats and boots are normal work wear. We're finally starting to learn

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Before taking over a site in West London a man had fallenl down a lift shaft.

 

He had been working with a harness, but reentered the shaft to pick something up.

 

His injuries included, broken limbs, contusions and concussion.

 

The management company and a director of the company were prosecuted.

 

The management company pleaded not guilty and were fined about £18000.

 

The company director pleade guilty and was fined £6000.

 

They both incurred punitive legal costs.

 

The man who had the accident received no compensation.

 

In short an employer is responsible for any employees action on site, no matter how stupid that action may be.

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at work we told we had to go on a ladder training course for health and safety reasons,

we all turned up at the appointed time to be confronted with a bloke and his laptop.........after20 mins of watching the obvious we all given a piece of paper to sign saying we had all been on a ladder training course....i then asked the obvious question...when are we going to have a go at putting some ladders up and have a go at mastering the art of putting one foot above the other......ladders what ladders its all done on computer these days.....my " certificate " made it as far as the waste bin :blush:

mikky

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health and safety is great when it's used with a little common sense.the problem is most site agent's/manager's nowaday's have come straight out of college without any proper experience and lack alot of common sense.

 

can you tell me how it's safe to wear a pair of gloves while using moving machinary?

 

the site i'm on at the minute uses a yellow and red card system.2 yellows and your off site for 6 month's,1 red and your off for 6 month's(if it's serious your banned from all the contractors site's).their messing around with people's lively hood's,when i say this i mean that if your walking to the canteen from site if you have'nt got your glove's on that's a yellow card :blush:

 

 

as soon as something start's to cost the main contractor money or they start to fall behind their schedule thne they start to turn a blind eye,anyone who has worked on a big site know's i'm telling the truth

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Starlight32

 

I'm sorry you feel a lot of Safety Officers / Advisors are anal and only spent 10 years as balanket stackers, I happen to be a Health and Safety Advisor and I have never stacked any blankets in my life in fact the wife can't even get me to make the bed :yes:

 

All joking aside, before moving into a position as a Health and Safety Adivsor a few years ago, I spent over 20 years in the construction industry as a tradesman, so you could say I'm now a poacher turned gamekeeper!! and I have read the book, seen the film, and worn the Tee shirt :hmm: so please don't tar us all with the same brush. :hmm: If in your business you have come across some who are poorly qualified then it will be to the detrement of the company who has employed them if it all goes wrong and they end up in court. The court of law will be where it is all judged if all goes wrong, a good solicitor or Barrister for the prosecution will rip them apart and anyone who thinks they know what they are talking about, if they don't.

 

The reason for employing a Health and Safety specialist is so you as the employer get competent advice on how to comply with all of the relevent Health and Safety regulations during the undertaking of your work, this will hopefully ensure the safety of your employees and the safety of those who may be effected by the work your company carries out.

 

Your company must be working on the right lines if you have reached a million man hours without incident, :blush: but don't become complacent, when this happens it is most likely time for things to go wrong. The NEBOSH cert is a good grounding for Health and Safety but any Health and Safety Advisors / Officers worth their salt will also be working towards (or already have) further qualifications such as NEBOSH Diploma, NVQ4, or a Degree in Health and Safety and will also be, or working towards becomming Chartered Members of IOSH or other equivalent body.

 

Health and Safety at work is very important (well I would say that) but gets blamed on too many occasions for the no win no fee culture we currently live in, it is not H&S who sue employers for injuries, (the HSE will prosecute for a breach in the regualtions) the claims for monies are civil claims. Some of these claims are very genuine and some are not and are taken up buy some unscrupulous solicitors (and sometimes claimants) out there on no win no fee contract who will try to sue for a broken finger nail if possible, just to get money. As for accidents at work, if employers comply with the regulations and take the advice they get from the H&S advisors more seriously there would be fewer fines for breaches of the regualtions and fewer accidents in the workplace which in turn this would reduce civil claims against the employers and reduce their insurance premiums.

 

Remember, The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 means exactly that "AT WORK". :good: Stay Safe :yes:

 

 

I am not tarring all with the same brush but its fact, there are good and bad in all.

 

My favorite term for a duff safety officer is a 'slips trips and falls specialist' but sod all else. I do meet them though.

 

Like I said I only did the NEBOSH course just to stand on the same level as those in front of me.

 

The point I am making as a bsuiness is that health and safety comes at a cost to the end user which in many cases that they do-not want to pay for.

 

Example 1; Risk assessment knocked back because it did'nt include walking from the car park to the site office. Bit of a job seeing as the car park is not part of the site.

 

Fair point I says, while thinking to myself after a quick cut paste and edit on the computer, that'll be another 200 quid plus vat hidden in your invoice somewhere for your observation...........

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Get Ken Woodward to visit your site

 

As some of you know I work as a Health and Safety adviser and trainer, delivering nationally accredited training courses for hundreds of different companies through out the the UK and abroad (sometimes) and one of the most moving films i have ever watched was about Mr Ken Woodward, when that film depicting his accident is shown on a course, the reaction to it is always the same, you see grown men sat with tears in there eyes, and many of them will openly say that they could have suffered something very similar because of something they had done, or not done.

 

It certainly makes them stop and think.

 

"There by the grace of god go i"

 

There can't be many of us out there who have not had a close shave sometime or other whilst doing our job, or even when we are out shooting, it only takes a fraction of a second, taking a risk, cutting a corner, not following procedures and it could be one of us next.

 

I have just spent the last 2 days in St Albans on a very large quarry site doing an abrasive wheels course for the guys that work there, and they all turned round after the course and said, that of all the training courses they had attended over the last 30 years, this was the one which had been the most usefull and thought provoking one they had ever attended.

 

I take pride in my job as a Proffesional adviser/trainer and have had several people come and thank me weeks after they had attended a course saying that what they learnt that day saved their own / someone elses life.

 

Health and safety is not there to stop people working, it is about achieving the correct balance, you should be able to get the job done, and get it done safely, no one goes to work every day expecting to be injured.

 

I have met some anally retentive "H+S Proffessionals", God they make me cringe

 

You here so much rubbish spouted today about how Health and safety has gone mad, typical example "CONKERS" banned at school on the grounds of health and safety, what a load of tosh, these things are banned by the schools insurance companies because the last thing they want is little Johnny or Marys parents banging in a compo claim.

 

Sorry for the rant.

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