the health and safety officer , or whatever title he is given is simply the cushion between management and workforce . anything goes wrong and his neck is on the block and not management . he will go to ridiculous lengths to keep his neck off the block . the more ridiculous the rules , the more the management will like it and they can put a nice big sign up , x days since last lost time accident .
gunnerheskey:
It’s getting far too over the top, but you have to understand that the thickies in the profession, (yes there is quite a lot now) will cry wolf at any mistake they’ve made and scream for compensation, so the companies have to cover all angles !
I blame all the americanised " no win no fee " compo insurance bods !Where has all the common sense gone !
I moved to Canada 16 months ago and drive all over the US and Canada,not once in the US have I been asked for a hi viz or any other health so called safety nonsense so the ‘americanised’ way didn’t come from over here…and a lot of the timber/lumber yards I deliver to I have often seen the forklift guy smoking as he unloads me…no such health and safety here that’s for sure…its like a breath of fresh air to be honest altho the Canadians are a lot more forward with hse than the yanks.
chrisnee01:
gunnerheskey:
It’s getting far too over the top, but you have to understand that the thickies in the profession, (yes there is quite a lot now) will cry wolf at any mistake they’ve made and scream for compensation, so the companies have to cover all angles !
I blame all the americanised " no win no fee " compo insurance bods !Where has all the common sense gone !
I moved to Canada 16 months ago and drive all over the US and Canada,not once in the US have I been asked for a hi viz or any other health so called safety nonsense so the ‘americanised’ way didn’t come from over here…and a lot of the timber/lumber yards I deliver to I have often seen the forklift guy smoking as he unloads me…no such health and safety here that’s for sure…its like a breath of fresh air to be honest altho the Canadians are a lot more forward with hse than the yanks.
Very true don’t think I ever put a high viz on all the time I was there. One place put a pallet with a big stop sign in front of me until they finished unloading that was the only h&s I saw
rigsby:
the health and safety officer , or whatever title he is given is simply the cushion between management and workforce . anything goes wrong and his neck is on the block and not management . he will go to ridiculous lengths to keep his neck off the block . the more ridiculous the rules , the more the management will like it and they can put a nice big sign up , x days since last lost time accident .
You almost hit the nail on the head there, but also add the insurance company, they are the ones driving this in large part. We went shopping for liability insurance and got quit a discount by vamping up our H&S policies.
We live in in litigious society, we wouldn’t have all these rules if so many drivers, forkies and the like hadn’t sued companies for compensation when hurt. This is not really a chicken and egg case, the insurance companies and H&S safety officers are only reacting to the endless lawsuits by people getting hurt.
chrisnee01:
gunnerheskey:
It’s getting far too over the top, but you have to understand that the thickies in the profession, (yes there is quite a lot now) will cry wolf at any mistake they’ve made and scream for compensation, so the companies have to cover all angles !
I blame all the americanised " no win no fee " compo insurance bods !Where has all the common sense gone !
I moved to Canada 16 months ago and drive all over the US and Canada,not once in the US have I been asked for a hi viz or any other health so called safety nonsense so the ‘americanised’ way didn’t come from over here…and a lot of the timber/lumber yards I deliver to I have often seen the forklift guy smoking as he unloads me…no such health and safety here that’s for sure…its like a breath of fresh air to be honest altho the Canadians are a lot more forward with hse than the yanks.
In the US and Canada employers are immune from liability beyond what the workers compensation covers, just wait until that imunity goes and the employers can be sued for liability under H&S laws as they are here in Europe and you will see full PPE introduced overnight there.
In the US workers compensation cases are heard by administrative judges and appeals by an appeal board, only then can a claimant proceed to the state judiciary system and cases that get that far are very rare.
There is just a lot more protection there for employers in law, if they ever change that you will see a massive urban camouflage introduced there overnight.
wheelnutt:
In the US and Canada employers are immune from liability beyond what the workers compensation covers, just wait until that imunity goes and the employers can be sued for liability under H&S laws as they are here in Europe and you will see full PPE introduced overnight there.In the US workers compensation cases are heard by administrative judges and appeals by an appeal board, only then can a claimant proceed to the state judiciary system and cases that get that far are very rare.
There is just a lot more protection there for employers in law, if they ever change that you will see a massive urban camouflage introduced there overnight.
It is working its way very very slowly in over here but its nothing at all like the UK (yet). The thing is though, its not like all of Europe is like the UK either. I always found France to be quite ■■■■ about H&S and the only place outside of the UK where morons would chase after you, ranting and raving telling you to put a hard hat on or a vis vest etc but the exact same type of place in Germany for example would be like taking a refreshing step back in time where all the workers would simply be wearing steel toe capped boots and blue overalls in a steel works for example. Compare that to the ott H&S hell that are most/all British steel works today.
Went to an engineering factory to collect a pallet last week and had to go about 10ft inside the door to sign some paperwork. Forkie shouts to me ‘have you got goggles or safety specs driver? You arw meant to wear them in here.’ I said ‘yes but they are in the cab. I’ll go and get them.’ Forkie says ‘what’s that on your head then driver?’ ‘Its my sunglasses’ says I. Forkie says ‘well they look like safety specs to me. Put them on and go and get your paperwork’.
Refreshing to find someone with some common sense for once. I wasn’t going through the factory where the machines were working or anything. Only standing in the despatch area where the risk to my eyes was probably no less or greater than if I was walking down the street.
I ordered a new DAF 75 with insulated tipper body for tarmac in 1994. Happened to mention in the weighbridge that I had specced an easy sheet. Was told to cancel it because if I tried to use it I would be thrown out — H & S said they were dangerous. 12 months later I was told if I did not have an easy sheet fitted I would be thrown out. H & S again.
So happy to be out of it.
Folks I’m sorry,we only have ourselves to blame the more they demand the more they will require, as fast as we comply they will create and implement new nonsensical rules and regulations, all to the benefit of no one but there own health and safety department who will receive a bonus and or a credit for causing unnecessary delays and pointless training/induction sessions for us, and before anyone accuses me of being reckless and not caring , my point of working is to earn and get home (eventually) safe,sound and in one piece, like a good many of the folks that visit these places,accidents will ALWAYS happen either, by a momentary lapse of concentration or by a complete idiot being a “clever ■■■■■ thinking they are invincible, no amount of hi-viz clothing or intensive training can prevent either from affecting accidents from occurring.
toby1234abc:
Does a Jumbo jet taxi to the stand with all lights going like a 80’s disco?
No 
. Funnily enough for all it’s other rules elf and safety hasn’t really found its way to the flight deck. You get bollocked by airside standards for no hi viz but that’s about it. Instead of health and safety, aviation has its equivalent. As aircrew you’re more concerned about not crashing a 400 tonne jet into the side of a mountain on approach, but before you start work you have to contend with security who delight in making you strip incase you have - woe betide - over a 100ml of liquid on your person. Nothing like a little rule enforced by a little mind for pure visciousness.
Was told last night that if you are heading to rugby on Cemex business, and you park up on an Industrial estate in the town, then “you may not be welcome” when you get to the factory. Not sure how they are going to enforce it, but Iv been told that we have had a memo about it.
Lefarge has recently acquired the site of failed Euromix at Deptford and the elf & safety rules they are implementing there take some believing. Luckily for me I work creek side and it doesn’t apply to us apart from high vis when unloading at nighttime but it’s never even dark with dirty great big sodium lamps blazing down. Think they would be told where to go if they brought or tried to bring their BS onto the boats.
truckyboy:
i`ve had people tread on my toes to make sure i really am wearing steelies,
I was once sat in a queue for an RDC somewhere, and the driver in front got out to talk to the yardsman. Another yardsman walked over and stomped on the drivers toes, and the driver punched him flat to the ground.
The first yardsman turned to the second and said: ‘You prick. He was only asking directions.’