Posted By Ken Urquhart
Back in December there was considerable discussion in these columns regarding the law in the UK relating to the use of Mobile Phones whilst driving.
I am currently involved with a major construction project in Hong Kong.
(Just for information: There is Road Traffic legislation here in Hong Kong curbing the use of Mobiles whilst driving. It's effectiveness is however questionable.)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this part of the world, Not having a mobile or a pager is like having a body that has no lungs or a heart. Peoples lives will be unfullfilled if they do not have there mobile communications.

However, the issue apart from driving that I am struggling with is the use of Mobiles by:amongst others, including Managers,supervisers etc.,
Crane operators; Pile Rig operators; Carpentars cutting timber on circular woodworking saws; Scaffolders clambering around on and erecting/dismantling scaffold,(Bamboo or Metal system);Plant operators driving/operating just about any type of Construction machine or vehicle that you can think of; and just about any other discipline or worker you can think of, including supervisery personnel going about there work tasks. etc., etc.,

The concern is that the Mobile takes priority over the work task.
The phone/pager owner whatever he/she (we have lots of Female labour on site as well) is doing, immediately responds to the Communication device.
This is as you can imagine a serious distraction and a very likely premptive contributor to an incidet/accident. (You should see some of the contorted Phone holding and positioning that goes on to allow the respondent to speak/listen but carry on with the work operation/task).

We addres the issue at Induction, Tool Box Talks, by issuance of Site notices and safety Guide posters, and by requiring all our Contactors and there many tiers of related and sub contractors to ban the use of Mobiles - Guidance in the Project Control Manual, Safety section.

In our Project office, we have a FINE system for anyone who whilst in a meeting or training or other formal situation Fails to switch OFF there mobile. (The proceeds, Which have been considerable go the The Lightouse Club Benevolent Fud here in HK)
This initiative is beginning to have some effect and has helped to reduce the disruption as well as the number of incidents.
However to apply the same system to the whole site and all the tiers of contrcators and sub and sub sub contractors leads us into major legal, cultural and control issues that will not be solved overnight.

We shall continue the propoganda measures to discourage use of Mobiles whilst performing work tasks, (put phone on Message response and check at work breaks etc.,)
To separate the user and his/her appliance, as I stated at the begining would be like sentencing them to death.

However this culture of the instancy of communcation devices and the urge to respond instatly to them presents I believe a very real risk.
Worldwide is this a problem still to be recognised?
Is this an issue where the societal benefit of technology is also likely to be a significant contributor to disaster, incident and accident?
What is the icidence in the UK and other countries of workpeople in the workplace performing work tasks and responding to there mobiles and is it seen as a problem?

I will be delighted to see and share comment and contribution to this issue.

Regards in anticipation.

Ken Urquhart

Posted By Jim Sweetman
Like several colleagues, I share your viewpoint regarding the use of the mobile phone.

There is definitely a case of double standards involved where the Police are concerned, but I cannot speak for HSE. Tonight, I read in the local paper that a man has an instant fine of £20 for eating a biscuit whilst driving. A few months ago there was a court case where a woman was fined for drinking from a bottle of water - whilst the car was stationary at traffic lights! At the same time, multitudes of 'phoney' drivers are going through all sorts of contortions trying to speak on the phone and drive at the same time - and getting away with it as far as enforcement is concerned.

Even though, like the majority of practitioners, I am at a loss to advise a way forward, I would draw attention to airlines and hospitals.

When flying, passengers are requested to turn off mobile phones as they may interfere with the plane's instruments. to date, I have not seen a single non-compliance.

Similarly, hospitals have signs up making the same request. Unfortunately they don't appear to enjoy the same standard of compliance as offenders are not always personnally at risk due failure of hospital equipment. However, ther are not many people who will use a mobile phone in a lot of ares within a hospital.

In both these instances, the motivation is strong - a plane crash or a surgical failure. If someone can think of an equal motivation to convince people that mobile phones are probably best not used whilst working, ther will probably be a positive way forward.

Posted By Frank Neville Johnson
Ken

In the Fire Service we use mobile communication, as you know and this, all-be-it a distraction in some circumstances, has an overall benefit to the efficiency of the emergency service we give. At the risk of going over old ground I disagree with the comment about double standards, the balance is that we receive regular and intense training as to the safe use of mobile radio/phones. There are dangers, as has been said, other than 'distraction' such as the risk if initiating an explosion in a flammable atmosphere and the possibility of interfering with electronic equipment such as medical equipment and aircraft control systems. Competent use in the circumstances of the case, I am sure, is your aim as opposed to a ban, but I think it must be an onerous task and I do not envy you.

Best of luck

Frank

Posted By Hazel Harvey
I'd be interested to know what members of our Hong Kong branch think of Ken's original posting.