The encroachment of draconian H&S rules just leapt bravely into the absurd.
At a regular collection last night, I went through all the usual handing in keys malarky, and sitting in canteens, etc. When loaded I did the usual - picked up my keys, paperwork, and seal. But this time, an ‘■■■■■■’ picked my keys up, and when I stretched my hand out to take them off him, he told me he has to hold them until he’s escorted me back to my cab. I rolled my eyes, as did he, but couldn’t see any harm in it.
We got back to my cab, I started the engine, pulled forward to shut the doors, and jumped out of the cab to shut the back doors and put the seal on. “I need your keys” the ■■■■■■ said.
Me: “What?”
■■■■■■: “I need your keys”
Me: “So I’m between the back of my lorry and the bay, and you’ve got my keys?”
■■■■■■: “Yes, it’s new rules”
Me: “You definitely can’t have my keys”
■■■■■■: “I need them”
Me: “Mate, I’ve pulled off the bay, I’m legally responsible for, and in charge of the vehicle now. I assume you’ve not got a licence, and it’s against my company rules. Is this procedure on your trailer loading checklist?”
■■■■■■: checks checklist “no”
Me: “well there’s no way you’re having my keys then”.
continues like this for a minute or so.
He never got my keys
I’m very uncomfortable with this, especially as this new ‘rule’ is not written down anywhere, and therefore not signed for. My problem is twofold. 1) They got pretty snotty and insisted I give them over on my next visit, so this will escalate. 2) I did not see any other driver challenging this, they all blindly handed them over without thought, so I think I’m on my own (again).
I really do think rules should be challenged sometimes, otherwise they can make anything up and run the risk of being more dangerous or risky than if they weren’t there. I think H&S has gone really mad at this company. How do I know I’m not giving my kets to some bearded jihadi that chooses that very moment to hijack a truck? Laughable, but it’s happened!
At the risk of the usual 5 page ■■■■ storm telling me to get over myself and get another job, what do others think of this issue? How would you approach it? What would you do and say?
EDIT: Obviously I’ll be raising this with my managers, but I’m sure they’ll side with the customer as they won’t want to rock the boat.