We need Health and Safety regs, as has been said already even falling off the bed of a trailer can mean being crippled for life and well as many other things we do in our occupation.
But the problem is that a massive industry has grown up round it, companies make products and then send thier salesmen out to convince the health and safety dept to buy thier product as “it’s required by law”.
The Health and Safety dept is made up of middle management types, who gets the job as the HS officer and comes up with loads of idea’s with little knowledge of what is really required, but at least it make them appear to be a usefull productive member of the company, if they are lucky they might even get a whole team to manage.
Another load of crap. Humberside fire brigade have been banned from using step ladders to check smoke alarms. If a fireman is not safe on a set of steps who the fug is?
I agree that you can hurt yorself if you fall from a low height, why not just ban kerbstones and front door steps.
The trouble is senior management running in fear knee jerk react to the most unlikely things.
At my last UK employer we were banned from using a 6" step to get to the vehicle wash and had to wait 2 months 'till they had constructed a concrete ramp - lethal for slipping on in icy temperatures. This was because a driver mistimed his footfall on the step and broke his ankle. Deaf ears were turned to my protests even when pointing out that all the other steps and stairways on site were similarly dangerous.
A brand new greenfield factory was constructed with a 2 way perimeter road which had corners radiussed to such a tight degree that 2 wagons couldn’t pass despite recommendations from me that it be one way. This was because a one way system would have taken the nasty lorries past the front of the office block.
At the same site they banned the use of forktrucks to offload curtainsiders from the side, having already refused the extra expense of a loading dock, and insisted that drivers manhandle heavy stillages of fabric to the rear and then turning the pallet trucks in the confined space at the back. The reason? They were worried that loose curtains flapping in the wind would injure a forkie.
It was decreed that warehousemen were only allowed to climb onto the deck of a wagon using step ladders, the vertical fixed steps being too dangerous. When it was pointed out that drivers had to use the fixed steps when delivering it was then decided that it was alright for drivers in the yard to do that, but the warehouseman climbing up with them had to use the ladders.
At the company’s home plant in Japan a forkie was killed while travelling backwards with a load when he hit a curb and overturned. Immediately the worldwide workforce was instructed to travel forward - until someone told them that this was against H&S guidelines. So they reversed the instruction for the UK only.
It was a sacking offence for a man to walk into the warehouse in shorts (might scratch legs on sharp racking) and non safety footware, even a non warehouse worker walking the ten paces to the office, but female office workers visiting the warehouse for long periods in the course of their clerical duties were permitted to wear short skirts and stillettos.
I could go on and on about the lunacy at that firm but it would be at risk to my personal safety due to a rise in blood pressure.
Spardo:
The trouble is senior management running in fear knee jerk react to the most unlikely things.
good job I don’t have any senior management then, they might wet themselves watching me put straps on a load of straw
although when I deliver wool to the grading depot I need to wear a harness if I go over 2m high, fortunately it can be done standing on the flatbed
loading can’t though
Spardo:
…but female office workers visiting the warehouse for long periods in the course of their clerical duties were permitted to wear shortskirts and stillettos.
That’s been a bone of contention of mine for years, David. Not the miniskirts, you understand, (although they really wouldn’t suit me), but the fact that they forget the rules to suit themselves.
That said, it always made me smile when I saw a nice girl in skirt, stillettos and a high vis jacket.
But it’s the fact that these people always plan for safety, but often make reasonably safe practices more hazardous.
As DafDave will testify, it only takes a split second. I’m so sorry you had that accident, and it really could happen to any one of us. How, though, can you plan against the random?
Spardo:
The trouble is senior management running in fear knee jerk react to the most unlikely things.
good job I don’t have any senior management then, they might wet themselves watching me put straps on a load of straw
Dennis.The same folks would have had heart failure when they saw an 11 year old lad stacking bales 9 course high with riders. That was only till i was tall enough to use a pitchfork I always found driving the tractor was the best job
Dragging up an old post. I witnessed H & S at its most stupid this week. I have been working in a large chocolate manufacturer in Bournville unloading tanks of hot chocolate. 33’C
Because of the design of my trailer and the design of a 100 year old factory I had to position my trailer the opposite way to the norm. Another truck delivering light packaging on pallets was in my way, so I asked if he could reverse about 6 feet.
This caused major ructions with the unloading staff although the driver was amiable and did as I asked. This resulted in a major argument between 2 managers who had their own agenda.
I was following all the made up rules that purport to be in the interest of H & S by: “Tankers must be parked within the bunded areas” “Pedestrian crossings must be kept clear” The manager could not understand plain English as I pointed out that the tanker outlet was on the right hand side of the truck, If I had turned around the the outlet would be outside the bund and the cab will be parked over the zebra crossing.
I got the tale that he had worked there for 30 years and he had never seen a tanker in that position. I explained that I dont have a choice where I park as the delivery hose is 3 metres long and the delivery point is 9 feet away. I also explained that he can unload the pallets anywhere because if he looked carefully he would find his forklift has wheels and could follow the other truck into an open space.
This morning after a meeting with several H & S experts they decided I was correct and the warehouse manager was an arse.
The next thing I saw was 2 scaffolders building a safety rail on the top of one of the tankers and clamping it to the factory fitted rails on all our tanks. I had to ask why they were doing it, to be told that drivers might fall off and injure themselves. Because these blokes were trained scaffolders I discovered that if they fell off the top of the tanks they could not get hurt. Im going to be trained as a scaffolder so that I am safe.
I agree with Health and Safety. But common sense is sadly lacking and is not common at all.
Just stand right where you are until we have convened a safety committee meeting to evaluate the negative potential to the company of having this dangerously depressed individual infecting our workforce.
Warning.
This item contains flammable gas.
I hope so, I want to use it to light a cigarette
Ignite away from face.
So how do I ignite my cigarette then?
I can’t remember the others, but at least 4 of the 6 where CYA.
Simon:
Safety notice on a disposable cigarette lighter.
Warning.
This item contains flammable gas.
I hope so, I want to use it to light a cigarette
Ignite away from face.
So how do I ignite my cigarette then?
.
Believe it or not Simon, there are people who try to light the end nearest the face
Either end is just as daft IMHO
I always found driving the tractor was the best job
