Posted By Kirloo Bap All I was assessing some biscuits in the tea room of one of the satellite buildings of our Empire the other day with some colleagues from that local. The topic of vandalism arose as one of the jolly fellows extracted a pair of medium sized bolt cutters that she proposed to use in lopping off a padlock. The padlock had been filled with superglue in situ and was now being most obstinate. Anyway, a spare lock was produced to test the bolt cutters (why?) and much huffing and puffing ensued until the lock twas nipped in twain. The safety point to that merry tableau then ensued. The mock risk assessment. “Oh careful Yvonne the safety guy’s here…. KB you should have stopped us…. we could have hurt ourselves…… bits of lock could have went flying and hit someone…..we should have wore goggles…..poor posture….gloves would have been useful in case we slipped and skinned our knuckles” and so on with much Michael taking of me and safety. We have all probably had this done to us as OSH bods. For a joke and a bit of a behavioural safety experiment I gave a dead pan mock response to the mock assessment and said “Why should I care, your all old enough to look after yourselves. If you act the goat and get hurt, tough luck.” Stunned silence. A nervous giggle. Then a tumble weed and a few crickets. I demolished a custard cream and stared at the fridge to see if anyone would guess I was pulling their legs. They didn’t twig but what they did is this. They continued to discuss what they should do and came up with a very sensible approach to the problem involving the maintenance people and their upper management while grumpy here had another biscuit. Learning point 1 People do not like being talked to like idiots especially if there is a percieved difference in status. The mock assessment they performed showed that they fully understood the risks, therefore no need to inform them further. Instead time to try a different approach. Learning point 2 People may actively take risks in order to satisfy their own emotional requirements, for instance group acceptance. If I had told them what to do I would have fitted into their pre construct of what a manager is and does and they would follow through with their pre constructed tried an tested response i.e. be quiet and change the subject to football after an aeon of shoelace inspecting. Not much achieved if that happens. I think we need to verbally wrestle with our colleagues, surprise them now and again in order to get them to see safty as being vibrant and worth discussion. Then again maybe I’m as mad as an Oystercatcher and talking complete trousers. Please chat, I insist. Kirloo Bap. PS Caribbean Judo Expert if your reading this, Baby Boy 9lbs 7ozs, mum and baby well.

Posted By Ian H That takes the biscuit. Ian

Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney Ian That was terrible! CFT

Posted By David J Jones How we are perceived, an example. Earlier this week, hot and sunny (yes, even in Scotland!), two warehouse guys having a coffee break, sitting on chairs at the building entrance. Both sets of entrance doors open and I spotted the inner door to the warehouse propped open with, you've guessed it, one of those red cylinder thingys, what are called now? Oh yeah, fire extinguishers! Conversation went - Me - "you got any wedges?" Guy 1 - "wedges?" Me - "you know, wedges, as in door wedges." Guy 1 - "door wedges?" Me - "yeah, door wedges, preferably ones that don't look like fire extinguishers." (Guy 2 gives puzzled look) Guy 1 with sheepish grin - "point taken" The message got across far better than putting "the official head on".

Posted By Ron Hunter I suppose we can all put up with a bit of ridicule, provided biscuits are provided. Opportunities to counter this usually present themselves though. Ask your colleagues to add up the real costs of this little DIY escapade, and then compare with that involved in bringing in a locksmith.

Posted By Merv Newman Good example, the seat belt story. I try to do this all the time. Get 'em laughing with you or you end up crying in your beer. (or your St Emilion 2000, which would be a real shame) Haven't had a custard cream for years. (is that within the AUG ?) Merv