Posted By TomP If you have clear evidence, i.e. one of your colleagues took photos from their office window, of contrators standing in the buckets of earth moving equipment to tie lables on to a lamp post, are you duty bound to report it and if so to whom? Moral duty as a professional? Or just a snitch......!!!! As a Health and Safety Manager, if this was my staff I would want to know. Wouldn't you?

Posted By Paul Leadbetter Tom Who are you going to tell, the HSE or the contractor? Paul

Posted By Robert Weiland You could maybe send the evidence to the contractors head office with a letter of advice. Maybe just maybe they will listen..... Good Luck

Posted By Peter Rose Hi Tom chances are if you report it to the contractor, you won't be thanked. report it to the HSE and they may investigate (not always though) especially if you include a photo. I would like to think that if it were one of my contractors, some one would tell me and not the HSE. Be guided by your conscience. Peter

Posted By Saracen11 Hi TomP, I'd report it, but from experience the HSE are too busy and too stretched to deal with such a trivial matter - this is not a reflection on any individual, but the service cuts that are impacting on the whole of the HSE. If it were a fatality, or a Major incident it would be different... do your bit and report it, at least then your conscience is clear. Regards

Posted By TBC Report it. Remember the poem: I could have saved a life today, but I chose to look the other way. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, I had the time, and I was there. But I didn’t want to seem a fool, or argue over a safety rule. I knew he’d done the job before, if I called it wrong, he might get sore. The chances didn’t seem that bad, I’ve done the same, he knew I had. So I shook my head and walked on by, he knew the risks as well as I. He took the chance, I closed an eye, and with that act, I let him die. I could have saved a life today, but I chose to look the other way. Now every time I see his wife, I’ll know I should have saved his life. That guilt is something I must bear, but it isn’t something you need to share. If you see a risk that others take, that puts their health or life at stake. The question asked, or thing you say, could help them live another day. If you see a risk and walk away, then hope you never have to say, I could have saved a life today, but I chose to look the other way. by Don Merrell

Posted By steven bentham Nice letter to contractors Managing Director with copy of photographs.

Posted By Chris Pope I don't see any dilema. Most guys will respond to a friendly chat - put on the white helmet, and your best acting skills, no need to impersonate the HSE. Just be firm, tell them to get down and be intelligent & practical about your advice on an alterntive method. Don't bother with the bosses, some other consultant is being paid for that. Don't bother with the HSE they know there are tens of thousands of guys breaking the law on construction sites every day who they will never see.

Posted By TomP Well I reported it to the companies health and safety adviser. He has welcomed the photos which was refreshing and I now feel a warm sense of pride and professionalism welling up in me..... or is that the fact that the office has now achieved the legal minimum... hey ho..

Posted By mark limon Tom,doing the right thing isnt always easy. Well done.