Would like to hear some thoughts on the wearing of hard hats on site (rail corridor).

Should this be mandatory irrespective of any work being done?

Or only be worn during activity on site?

All other contractors are wearing hard hats all the time, maybe a lack of safety culture?

Think you will find this is client (Network Rail) mandate same as orange GoRT Hi-Vis and no rigger boots

Yes it is not commensurate with risk but if you want the pay put up with the site rules

...and low lying clouds.

Incidentally, when I was working on NWR infrastructure a few years back NWR track maintenance staff were not required to wear hard hats - double standards or what! 

Edited by user 26 January 2018 10:48:16(UTC)  | Reason: Addition

Originally Posted by: Charlie Brown

All high level contractors also insist on 100% hard hat use whilst on site and for the ones I have deaalt with they also use different colours to distinguish supervisors, first aiders etc. A long time ago when I was a tacker we only used to have to wear them in areas where there was a significant risk of injury but I guess there were too many people with too many excuses so out comes the blanket mandatory in all areas rule. It's the same with safety glasses and hi viz.

The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989 made it mandatory to wear suitable head protection for all construction operations "unless there is no foreseeable risk of injury to his head other than by his falling".  So this was a case where H&S did have to address every foreseeable risk.

So actually, the burden was reversed - helmets were required in construction by law unless there was no foreseeable risk, not only where there was significant risk.  Of course, those regs have been revoked now.