Morning all,

I am wondering if anyone can advise me as to the name of the attachment that you put on the keys of machinery and affix to your waist so you have to remove the keys each time you get off/ out of that piece of machinery.

Thanks in advance

I did, but its not what I want, I dont want retractable as I feel that would be a pain, and may get broke. More a bungie cord type thing, I know there is something on the market, but just cannot think of the name....

and if there isnt ye better all sod off, its my idea, and seen as you were the only one to reply Chris42 I'll give you 15% of the company!!!!

Hmmm....usual reference is a lanyard attached to a dead man's switch, such as you'll find on jet skis and the like. Obvious idea is that the thing pulls out with minimal effort and kills the power.
Not sure I'd go with anything more substantial than that, you'll injure your waist, break the key, or possibly both! You'll need a switch interface specifically designed for that purpose.

regarding post 3, I had said that was not what I was looking for and if there were no such thing on the market then I would produce one...but it got removed

If there were only one desigated drive then I would say super to the cord idea, very cost effective, but I'm sure the guys just wouldnt bother.

The ones I have seen on the net look a bit fragile, I want something thats durable, but light weight and possibly in a bright green colour so its easily noticed, should it be remove from the belt and be misplaced.

Sorry Graham but I must disagree with you on this issue. A rewoven figure '8' knot would be far better! ;-)

Way too far....the keys as you are aware are to be removed from the item of plant when not in use (on a construction site), to prevent others for going onto it and operating it (not authorised or competent persons)....and after a number of times of telling the guys to remove the keys they still fail to do so, therefore I am taking the step to get such an attachment for the keys, this is not uncommon, but I just cannot think of the name of it.

Lawlee

Methinks I wasn't going too far - just developing/expanding the topic you initiated: The basic problem is the same whether it's about site plant/machinery or vehicles. I included my queries about vehicle key arrangements in the hope of finding out from others what sort of arrangements exist if any. Furthermore, if guys on your site/s can't be bothered to remove keys from plant when left unattended, perhaps there's not much hope of them using cord or stretchy type lanyards either! There's also the possibility that you might not be getting the message over to the guys effectively. Therefore, perhaps the message might be more effective coming alternatively or additionally from others.

Now for a DEViation alias DIGression, mainly for Safety Smurf: When I referred to a "double fisherman's knot", perhaps I should have written "double fisherman's bend"! Were you thinking of a "grapevine knot" in relation to a 'rewoven figure 8 knot'?!!!! :-)

p.s. For those who wonder about the capitalisations of the opening letters of the words deviation and digression above, I'm experimenting with a possible code system for the benefit of forum users. i.e. DEV or DIG serve to warn readers that I'm digressing/deviating from the main thrust of the topic. Other possibilities are REM for reminiscing about circumstances as long as two or three decades ago and even BORing! Any other suggestions?

As this topic has dropped from forum page 1 into near oblivion on page 2, it's time to repeat an earlier query as to whether anyone knows of proximity devices for authorised users of plant, machinery and vehicles. One reason for asking concerns the woodworking machines used by staff in the technology depts of secondary schools throughout the UK. The ones in my employer's schools, usually in storerooms or technician's rooms, all have key-controlled switches so that only trained authorised employees can use them.

Though the rooms are out of bounds to pupils unless supervised, the key switches are intended as another measure to prevent pupils using or playing with the machines (usually including a circular saw, a planing machine and sometimes a spindle moulding machine) and risking serious injury from the high speed cutters.

It's not feasible for authorised users to have the control keys on stretchy lanyards. Sometimes I've found machines left unattended and with the keys left in the control switches. On such occasions I've tended to have a discussion with the heads of dept and their colleagues. Even though the likelihood of a pupil venturing to start a machine is relatively low, the potential for harm to such a pupil is high. A handy approach to reinforce the matter is to ask what adverse outcomes might arise. With a few hints, the teachers and technicians (if any these days) usually identify a) HSE investigation & prosecution, b) adverse media coverage (including stuff on the internet for all to see anytime, not just local press articles) and c) disciplinary action by their employer.

Another category of persons to be excluded from using school woodworking machines comprises members of the public who join evening classes held in schools with the main purpose of being able to use departmental machines for little cost, even though they are not trained or supervised. In one case a few years ago one of my employer's schools suspected that an evening class had either tampered with the key control to a woodworking machine or somehow obtained an illicit copy of the key. This led to the control being fitted with a new key barrel and trained school staff being given matching new keys: It would have been interesting to have used a covert camera to record the reactions of the errant evening class people involved when they next tried to use the machine! Also, they couldn't complain about the change of key because this would have amounted to a confession of having used the machine in breach of the agreement between the school and the evening class organisers about which machines could and couldn't be used.