...the bane of our lives!... ....>>>>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11454241

Quote:
".....But the Tory peer told the Daily Mail: "Frankly if I want to do something stupid and break my leg or neck, that's up to me. I don't need a council to tell me not to be an idiot. I can be an idiot all by myself."
End Quote.

The daft rules and regulations and fear of litigation were starting to affect my work of my trade as an Electrical Engineer some time ago, and encouraged me to Retire.

Playing Conkers is not allowed without wearing Goggles...
Rolling Cheese down a hill...Not a good idea...You may fall over...
Cutting hair with Scissors...Far too much blood...
...etc...etc...etc...
...all far too dangerous... ...!

Finally, a Minister, or two, with some "Common Sense"... ...!

Paul....must take my Slippers off, before proceeding down my stairs!... ...!

A lot of these "organisations" are getting out of hand...
..the RSPCA for example...Prosecution for accidentally treading on a Snail?....Cruelty to Animals?

...what do you reckon?... ... ...!

I remember working in the 60s and playing in the 50s. None of this health and safety stuff exsited then, yet I still live on. Lead paint on tin toys with sharp edges, DDT on the lawn, and no seat belts in cars. No supervision at the playground, If our best friend hopped off the teeter tawter because he was heavier, we couldn't sue him. All we could do was plan a way to get even. 
Construction work has changed massively over 40+ years. Even little Sally planting Petunias in the park has to wear a bright traffic vest, a hardhat, kneepads, safety shoes, long sleeve shirts and must carry an emergency plan along with directions to the nearest Trauma center. 
Finally, as a long time construction supervisor.. If any one in my crew gets injured serious, and wasn't wearing all this , I might be the recipient of a fine that could cost me my home. And I just work here.. I don't even own the company!

I always think of the fantastic Gary Larson cartoon of the pig and the wolf in court, and the lawyer saying "So that is when you decided to light the fire Mr. Pig? Do you realise my client is an endangered species whilst you are no more than a walking side of ham"
Sums up the system brilliantly

Steve M wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2010 at 6:49pm:


Don't get me started... I survived a normal 60s/70s suburban childhood without even breaking a bone or losing a tooth. Insane bike and sled stunts, home-made go-carts, tree-climbing, playing on the RR tracks, handling wild animals... mt parent used to literally lock us out of the house when the weather was decent, so we could go do what used to be called "playing outside".

And in the workplace... groan... the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

There's a lot to be said for wearing a hard hat and eye protection when it's necessary, and a first aid kit is a good idea on any construction site, but yes, it's out of control. I see no need to wear a damn hard hat when nobody's working above me... and I'm about 10 times more likely to bonk my head on some low obstruction when I'm wearing a hard hat. Goggles usually just get fogged up, and they are excellent for actually capturing dust and other particles, rendering your eyelashes useless. 


Here's a good one: a small co. I work for is probably going to take an install job on a new restaurant being erected in the middle of  what used to be an oil-refining facility (or something like that).
The protocols put in place during the period when the site was being "stabilized" will remain throughout the project, so we cannot bring personal vehicles to the site, we cannot bring any food or eat on-site (ironic, isn't it?), we will have to check in at the perimeter every day to display our hard hats, goggles, respirators, vests, etc., and probably sign some forms... and oh yes, the first day we will have to take some safety classes. 

I believe the concept of Health & Safety was well-intentioned. Unfortunately it hasn't worked like that in practice. I can only speak for the UK. Since restrictions on solicitors advertising were lifted in the 1980s a new industry has evolved where none previously existed & a lot of people are profiting from it. This was the start of the litigation culture in this country. In the end it all comes down to greed.

I think this comment from the chairman of the National Trust sums it up perfectly:

I hope common sense will prevail but somehow I'm none too confident. Too many people are making too much money out of this nonsense.

Same here. I work for Strukton Rail which is the largest railroad contractor in Holland. For as long as I can remember railroad personell has to wear a yellow vest to make themselves visible to traindrivers. I have nothing against that.

Since two years we are also obliged to wear a hard hat. I can understand you have to wear such a contraption when working near cranes (like I did last night) or digging equipment. But can someone please explain to me why I have to put the damn thing on my head when I leave the car and walk to my mobile office unit? This is company regulation. I actually have to wear my helmet on every working location. That means also inside the shed we use to drink coffee (there is nothing there besides a coffeemachine and a couple of chairs), the mobile toilet, in the open air where nothing but birdshit can fall on your head.

Best of this all is that when you get caught not wearing your helmet, you get a 250 Euro fine. Get caught a second time and it's bye bye... Until now, nobody has been fined and nobody has been fired. Cause our supervisors also think it's a stupid rule (they have to wear a hard hat too...). But one day some smart ass will come along and try to brown nose the management. We are waiting for that...

Carlo

Here's another one that I find rather strange ...... Bus drivers wearing reflective jackets ..... WHILST DRIVING!!!
In and around the depot when walking about ...... yes ...... if moving around the outside of the bus when out on the road..... yes..... whilst driving NO!! ....... unless you want to make yourself an easier target for the yobs in certain parts of some cities in the UK.

expat wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2010 at 10:55am:


... ... ... ...!

Shhhh....

There are times when I have fallen out of Bed, and feared that there may be a Health and Safety Official watching me from inside my Wardrobe, ready to ban me from ever using my Bed, ever again... ...!

I suffer similar confrontations, involving my various Gas appliances and Gas Fitters... ....Health and Safety again!

My own Health and Safety has kept me alive for the past 76 years. I don't need to be threatened by it, by some daft Official!

Paul... ... ... ...!

I wonder of there are Health and Safety Officials resident on Alpha Centauri...waiting for us to arrive?.... .... ...!