Regarding H.S.E. link http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/ask.htm


OK, so I see something that my recent safety training has instructed me is an unsafe act or incident, whilst I am a member of the public (not in a work situation).

I've seen recently:

A lone installation worker from Sky working unsafely (I think),
A lone rubbish collector both driving and collecting rubbish on a busy road,
Scaffolding seen without toe-boards and not tied into brickwork at the 40ft height,
Delivery truck with tail lift, but missing rails and plates, delivering on busy road.

Should I ignore it, do you ignore it?

What should I do, what would you do?

Being in health and fire safety for as long as I have it becomes second nature to observe hazardous events as part of my day to day activities, whether working or not.

I take photos when I can and have quite a collection, I must get round to organising them sometime.

I once reported to HSE a cladding company operating off a youngerman board at height with no fall protection. I don’t know if action was taken but barrier rails appeared that afternoon.

I once observed a gardener trimming a hedge across the road from me, standing on the roof of his van parked on the pavement to reach the top of the hedge. When he finished that one his mate drove the van to the next hedge across the road, this time he was lying on the roof until he got to the hedge then stood up to precede cutting. He was using petrol driven hedge trimmer.

I see things all the time, yesterday I drove past a portable access tower set up on a pavement with cones and chains around and even a warning notice. There was nobody working on the platform but I commented to my wife how good it was, toeboards etc. Then when returning we saw the worker atop the platform and a step ladder alongside, obviously used to access the platform so not so good after all.

I have a good photo of a painter standing on the pitched roof of a porch painting the upper window sills, no fall protection.

I once wrote to a high street shoe retailer with a photo I took in store of a blocked fire exit, I offered my services as a fire consultant to them but this was rejected due to their so called excellent in house fire safety. Not that good or I would not have taken the photo. They did thank me however.

We do lead a sad existence don’t we?

Just this week I saw a painter standing on a ledge over a shop 2.5 m up with no edge protection for him and nothing to cordon off the area below, ie the shop entrance. I took a picture with my camera; luckily it has a twisty screen so I don't look too obvious when taking the picture

Very interesting and coincidental that this report comes out today when we are discussing reporting incidents.


http://www.info4fire.com..._Title=&Omni_Source=

Yesterday, on Saturday, I was doing some shopping and saw a man watering his plants at his shop with a watering can, but he was standing on a 6 inch ledge about 8 feet above the pavement. I shouted up to him, ''Hello, would you like me to hold your ladder whilst you get down?'' ''Oh Yes, thanks, I have to do this everyday'' he said.

I must remember to carry a camera - good idea that.

Talking of disc cutters - I recently had some flagging/block laying done at home and asked the workers to use water when power cutting so that dust would be suppressed. Also suggested politely that they wear masks and goggles.

All was well, until after they had finished the work and my next door neighbour told me he had to wash his car due to the dust. They apparently waited for me to go out then cut the blocks dry.