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Posted By Andy Petrie
As I was walking to work this morning I noticed some of these signs on the street and it got me thinking.
Surely if there is a danger, likely from dropped objects, they should cordon off the pavement to prevent people walking under it.
Or does the sign simply mean don't be supprised if a bucket hit's you on the head.
On our sites we would ensure any area like this was cordened off and thet site staff have hard hats. Is it therefore OK for members of the public to walk under work?
The only things the signs achieved as far as I could see was that as it was very busy some had to step into the busy road to get by (most not looking first either).
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Posted By Ron Hunter
If the public footpath is closed or obstructed by the works then you can contact your local Authority Road Department. There should be barriers above to prevent things falling on you, and a safe alternative to walking on the road to get past.
Contractors generally need permission to "take over" a public footpath.
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Posted By Dave Merchant
The problem is in that phrase "member of the public" - if the right of way hasn't been closed by a TRO, they have the legal right to use it despite any workplace notices you may throw in their path. Members of the public don't have to abide by HASAWA nor can they be prosecuted for ignoring it.
So by explaining what the hazard is, people are hopefully more likely to steer clear. If you want to try it, cone off a chunk of pavement and don't put up any signs - people will walk through the cones within minutes. Do it again with a "Danger! Unexploded Myth!" notice and they'll keep out.
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Posted By D H
Hi Andy - can I suggest that if someone has put signs up, then it is "reasonably foreseeable" that something could fall from above.
Therefore the duty of care is owed and care procedures implemented.
Oh for the perfect world eh? That is why we are killing over 200 people every year.
I personally would have called the local authority or the HSE and let them deal with it.
Am I sad or what?
Dave
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Posted By Tabs
Not sad, Dave - just a little impractical. If I called that in (and it is one of my pet hates too) I would expect to get a rather disinterested reply of "we'll get round to it sometime" ...
It's not a big issue to an over-streched resource, but it might get mentioned at their next visit :-)
Having said that, I had ours replaced with "overhead work" signs because we had controlled the dangers.
It is up to us to educate the cleaning companies and those making the signs ;-)
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