Posted By Ken Lucas I know a lot of you will find this incredible but believe me it is true. I received a call from an Occupational Health Adviser who I know; they are employed by a major ‘blue chip’ organisation. The person wanted some advice/information. The request was: ‘did I know of any companies who could supply/provide a vending machine for band-aids/elastoplasts? When I asked why? The response was: ‘we are using far too many and that we are trying to reduce costs and that making them available but chargeable would cut down the expense both in terms of money but also in the time that first-aiders and nurses who have to stop work, handing them out’. I was tempted to do a Victor Meldrew - I don’t belieeeeeeeeeeeeve it!! But I remained calm and professional suggesting that they initially might want to investigate why they (the organisation) are experiencing a major increase in the use of band-aids/elastoplasts, the use or non-use of PPE and it’s suitability, Risk Assessment of the work/duties, etc, etc, you know all the proactive stuff. Quite amazing really, I can just see someone standing in the corridor dripping blood fumbling for his or her 10p. Later on I contacted someone else within the organisation that I knew, to check the validity of this request and he began ranting, ‘we’re looking at ALL avenues of reducing costs Ken, things are tough’. An even more startling comment, eg: what other health and safety issues are being ‘looked’ at? Hhhhmmmmmmmm. Think the ‘bean counters have really got to them don’t you’? Regards Ken

Posted By Karen Todd We use the same boxes for the plasters so that they have to be used at the time and people can't take handfuls home. The contents of first aid kits is another matter. These appear to be raided regularly and items from huge dressings to slings and crepe bandages disappear. Our level of accident reporting is good and we know what the first aiders have been using in treatment, yet major items disappear from the first aid kits. There is very little we can do to stop this as we have first aid kits in all departments so they are readily accessible to anyone. We just keep checking the contents and replenishing. Our first aiders also treat non-work related injuries, e.g. if someone had sprained their ankle in the house and wanted the bandage changed, we would do that for them. Judging from what has been disappearing (slings, crepe bandages, large dressings, eye pads), some people at home or their pets must have suffered some pretty horrendous injuries! Regards, Karen

Posted By Ken Lucas I should have said that this wasn't a 'grab as many band-aids as you can' issue. This is a case of genuine cuts where the Occ' Health Nurse on duty has to put on the band-aid on the injured indivdiual. All accounted for by an insertion in the accident book. No band-aids are just given out upon request, without first seeing the injury. All band-aids and other first-aid equipment are secure and under lock and key. It appears there is a major issue with cuts as there is no major expense with any other first-aid equipment and/or materials. Ken

Posted By Sean Fraser Kelvin, I didn't think you'd gone off-mesage at all - I think you've hit the nail right on the head. If companies (or government for that matter) were really interested in quality and safety, they would look a the waste they produce on a dialy basis. How much of what we do actually contributes to the product or service we claim we provide? And how much of it is simply to feed the system? I agree with you totally regarding a safety conscious society - until people can identify the hazard for themselves, accept that there are risks in everything we do but acknowledge that the level of action needs to be proportional to the risk involved (the consequences of the hazard being realised) and then act on that knowledge, then their attitudes will not change. We all have different motivators - but if we fixate on money as being the be-all and end-all of what we do, what does that say about us? The cost of everything and the value of nothing.

Posted By Ken Lucas Yes Simon I've mentioned that and a few other points. In fact I've 'fastened electrodes' so to speak, to a number of tender spots in an effort to focus on causation. Also agree with the points made by Kelvin and Sean - the 'mission statement' of the organisation includes the following phrase: ... nothing is so important that we cannot do it safely... After a couple of chats I BELIEVE that the issue is about inadequate PPE, eg: wrong hand protection for the task. Ken

Posted By Karen Todd Kelven, I had said in my post that a PPE vending machine would quickly identify offenders, e.g. those who seem to be using excessive levels of PPE and would provide the basis for investigation. If I had one of those machines installed, firstly it would save time (as in my post). Also, I do think it is important to monitor PPE usage. Excessive PPE usage can be an indication of a problem. You might also have people who are just careless and don't look after PPE or who keep losing it, but those would be in the minority. The reports that the machine generates would save you having to do this for yourself. PPE from this machine would be free and unlimited, but apparently excessive usage does need investigation. For example, someone could be using a pair of gloves every day because they aren't suited to the task and perhaps a more suitable glove would be longer lasting - this is the only way in which I would seek to 'limit' PPE usage. I know we have to provide suitable and sufficient PPE but we don't always get it right first time. I would never tell someone they couldn't have PPE because they'd already had too much of it! Regards, Karen

Posted By Nigel Hammond I'd just like to put in my thoughts on what Kelvin said about our society and its attitude to risk. I agree with your sentiments Kelvin - with issues like speed cameras. I think there are a few misconceptions in the public and media that do not help our cause. If we could just do something to dispel them - instead many of us H&S bods increase the anti-safety viewpoint. 1. There are no degrees of risk - just 'safe' or 'unsafe'. - If only journalists didn't see the world like this -even the BBC! -actually they've had enough knocks in the last 24 hours! 2. "Health & Safety is boring"- I think as a profession we often bring this on ourselves by being too pompous with quoting legislation chapter and verse and not talking in plain friendly English - particularly in procedures and policies. 3. "Health & Safety Advisers and H&S Laws are there to stop us having fun!". We can turn this round the other way. H&S enables you to have fun. I would say that breaks on cars are a safety device. Without them, you could not enjoy driving at even a moderate speed! One more thing, many Health & Safety Advisers are sanctimonious, self-righteous, are always getting on their soapbox and have a knack of making those around them feel like naughty school children which is exactly what I am doing now so I'll stop - THE END!