Went into Cemex Rugby on a new job last night. Is this place for real? Office told me to take hi-viz, steelies and a hat. Kid on the gate "oh no drive’, not allowed on site like that. Need goggles, hard hat needs chin strap, steelies need to be lace up not slip on or rigger, hi-viz needs to be a coat with sleeves, also need hi-viz trousers and all of it must be worn at all times on site. Woman in despatch office gave me the most minging never-been-washed ‘spare’ hi-viz trousers and sleeved hi-viz coat to wear, along with a pair of goggles with no vents in so steamed up in 10 seconds. Then I had to wait for 3 hours to go in the shed to get loaded whilst the warehouse bods were doing the square root of ■■■■ all as I was the only one waiting. Eventually got loaded, pulled outside alongside the fence to get buttoned up in the pouring rain, goggles promptly fogged up again rendering me nearly blind and went arse over tip on the the edge of the kerb because I couldn’t ■■■■■■■ see it. And this is meant to be “health of safety” ? ■■■■ right off! 
Thats about right wait till you get the woman on the gate she is the worst of the lot I known them to make drivers go down town and buy a pair of boots I have seen soldiers in afganistan wearing less.lol
hanson:
Thats about right wait till you get the woman on the gate she is the worst of the lot I known them to make drivers go down town and buy a pair of boots I have seen soldiers in afganistan wearing less.lol
I’d tell her to ■■■■ off!
It was a Pakistani kid in there who, in fairness to him, was right as rain and we had a bit of a natter. The bedraggled looking woman in the despatch office was pleasant enough too, this was about 0115 this morning.
Why don’t these places use their ■■■■■■■ brains? If HSE is so important to them then simply don’t let outsiders such as drivers on site. Have them park up in a segregated area away from the main site and drop their trailers off, then shunters come and take them on site, load them and bring them back. Driver couples back up, goes in despatch office on exit gate and happy days. It’s not hard is it? Why the ■■■■ should WE have to dress up like Santa Claus?
Oh and do you want a laugh? Another driver and friend of mine was following me in to do the second load we had out of there. We turned right at the lights and I saw that the gap between the islands was looking a bit narrow so swung over to the left a bit to get the trailer straight. Mate of mine behind came round but cut the corner a bit and all I saw in the mirror was the trailer being launched at nearly 45 degrees as he caught the kerb and him nearly getting launched across the cab. Thick ■■■■■ 
Perhaps you should have stayed on the floor and yelled for help when you tripped over the kerb which you couldn’t see through fogged up goggles!
cav551:
Perhaps you should have stayed on the floor and yelled for help when you tripped over the kerb which you couldn’t see through fogged up goggles!
The thought did cross my mind, but if you’d seen the monsoon-style rain you’d have quickly changed your mind, as I did. 
You’ll encounter the same problems if ever you have the misfortune to visit Tarmacs Eaton Hall plant at Congleton!
I have seen Eastern European tanker drivers stood on top of the corrosive acid tanker wearing only cut off shorts,flip flops and a tee shirt.
If you go abroad, you see houses being built propped up with wooden poles or tree branches.
The UK is over the top with being “safe and protected”,brain washed.
We are in there all the time - particular on the clay side as we are the Incumbent haulier. I have to say that it is def unique as places go. I had an incident up there whilst I was inducting a new driver. A gregorys tug smacked into us side on. He was supposed to be turning left with the wheels pointing to the left but due to his speed he was going straight on - and he hit us.
After investigation they found us guilty as they didnt want the other guy sacked!
Made me laugh as we were pushed off the road onto the grass - due to his speed.
They eventually relented and the guy kept his job. We took half the blame!
I want to one on a breakdown and got a rollocking for using the outside tap. Had to have one of their bods fill and fetch the drums!
as left hand down points out at the end of his post ,its meant to be health and safety .ask the clown if she would like to wear something that someone had sneezed all over and wiped their nose with ? or wore it after a week tramping without a wash (having been through the tunnel I know about this 
) or perhaps she would like to wear the overtrousers that some one has possibly dribbled down whilst having a jimmy riddle ? then when she declines tell her you don’t either .
I refused to wear anything anyone has worn on the grounds of hygiene.
I have the basic H&S so anything above you supply new correctly fitting kit or it don’t get loaded … end of .
I wonder if Cemex are this rigorous in their native land?.. (the ‘Mex’ is for Mexico) I suggest not
syramax:
as left hand down points out at the end of his post ,its meant to be health and safety .ask the clown if she would like to wear something that someone had sneezed all over and wiped their nose with ? or wore it after a week tramping without a wash (having been through the tunnel I know about this
I take it you havent met the lady in question■■? Not one to be argued with!!!
lightning:
syramax:
as left hand down points out at the end of his post ,its meant to be health and safety .ask the clown if she would like to wear something that someone had sneezed all over and wiped their nose with ? or wore it after a week tramping without a wash (having been through the tunnel I know about thisI take it you havent met the lady in question■■? Not one to be argued with!!!
There’s a company at Hulland Ward, near Ashbourne that has similar requirements regarding hi-viz clothing, feels like you’ve been in a sauna in summer.
I went to that place at Hulland Ward, was pre warned that I needed the full kit, hiviz everything etc. So I got there, located trailer I was collecting, coupled up, all the while I was there I saw no one, apart from the security guard. Ok, so it was 2230 on a Friday night, but if everyone had ■■■■■■ off home, the place was like a ghost town why did I need to dress up as DayGlo man?
lightning:
We are in there all the time - particular on the clay side as we are the Incumbent haulier. I have to say that it is def unique as places go. I had an incident up there whilst I was inducting a new driver. A gregorys tug smacked into us side on. He was supposed to be turning left with the wheels pointing to the left but due to his speed he was going straight on - and he hit us.
After investigation they found us guilty as they didnt want the other guy sacked!
Made me laugh as we were pushed off the road onto the grass - due to his speed.
They eventually relented and the guy kept his job. We took half the blame!
To be fair, when it’s wet, the area outside the limestone intake is deadly…
Look the only way to fight this ■■■■ is to play them at their own game.
When you fell over because of steamed goggles then you should have gone and filled in the accident book. When that book gets full up of people falling over because of steamed goggles then sure as ■■■■ stinks then goggles will get banned! Simples!
^^^^ This. As I get older I find I derive much more pleasure out of the simple things in life, things like using THEIR stupid interpretation of H&S as a stick to beat them with.
It’s important to remain calm, polite, not flustered and definitely not swearing, but if you play it right you can tie them in absolute knots with a bonus that they can’t ban you from site simply because you’ve displayed such a good attitude.
Little victories are important I think.
the maoster:
^^^^ This. As I get older I find I derive much more pleasure out of the simple things in life, things like using THEIR stupid interpretation of H&S as a stick to beat them with.It’s important to remain calm, polite, not flustered and definitely not swearing, but if you play it right you can tie them in absolute knots with a bonus that they can’t ban you from site simply because you’ve displayed such a good attitude.
Little victories are important I think.
A man after my own heart! Well said.
Ossie
I’ve been there just once and I couldn’t believe the place!
Office gave me all the gear before I went. Got told off straight away for not having goggles on at ALL times. I thought they were for when I EVENTUALLY got to the front of the queue to get loaded.
Left hand down!:
If HSE is so important to them then simply don’t let outsiders such as drivers on site. Have them park up in a segregated area away from the main site and drop their trailers off, then shunters come and take them on site, load them and bring them back.
Exactly.
I can’t stand these places that expect everyone who turns up to know their gestapo rules as if we all work there.
I did find as I was leaving I turned right and the vehicle carried on straight as if we were on ice.It gave me a fright!
It was wet and I think it was on concrete. I wonder if it is the dust in the air settling on the wet surface. The reason for the goggles I guess! But perhaps they should look at their surfaces, it seems a common experience.