Posted By Martin R. Bessant Hi Phil, Perhaps it is holiday time for some people. I am still here as are the other moderators. Unfortunately I have very limited knowledge of pallet trucks so I am unable to assist. I have asked the specialist groups steering committee to ask each group to nominate a person who can respond to questions on behalf of their specialist subject. Hopefully this will get you and other enquirers some additional responses. Hope you get the answers you require. Martin.

Posted By Stuart Nagle Hi, Phil. Unfortunately the curse of work involves travel throughout the UK and to exotic overseas locations. Whilst this may sound the ideal, the work in the UK does not stop whilst I am away in the sunshine (or the snow of the Falkland Islands), and playing catch-up when one arrives home often involves burning the mid-night oil.... This is the part of the job others are not interested in hearing about !! Obviously, all this work detracts from the time for 'surfing' and of course, responding to requests for help and information from HSE colleagues. But rest assured, when I can, I will.... Best regards... Stuart Nagle

Posted By Phil Roberts I am encouraged to find some of the "Guru's" are still out there willing to help and am grateful for thier time and knowledge,. Just to reply to Jim, I do have a copy of HSE books catalogue and most of the free leaflets and a few books. I also have access to OHSIS and HASCOM but as anyone who has tried to decifer the requirements of regulations will know there are a lot of grey areas where the experience of more experienced H&S practitioners is invaluable. Long live the Forum and the opportunity to converse with the more Knowledgable amongst us. Regards to all Phil

Posted By Peter J Harvey I am sorry Rob but I think you have got it all wrong, The forum is still alive and well, the topics raised are still interesting and this still has to be the best and most up to date forum on the web.

Posted By Ken Taylor I managed to give up both but found motorcycles more difficult. I wonder how things would have gone if the Japanese had taken over the tobacco industry instead! A 59 club badge remains a prized possession but the cigarette cards went long ago.

Posted By Bryn Maidment Ken / Martin ex-bikers eh!! Didn't anyone ever tell you that bikers never grow up? They are little boys (& girls!) playing with big boys toys. Triumph ARE still going strong and build sublime machines so get down to a dealership near you and swing a leg! Anyone one else out there think that safety professional and motorcycle can be uttered in the same sentence?

Posted By Frank Cooper So age-ism is beginning to show in this thread. Did you not ever progress and drive a Moggie 1000? OK So I didn't have a Triumph, but I did have a Francis Barnett 197 in British Racing Green. Plenty fast enough for me, as a mechanic friend of mine did an interesting tuning job on it. The Villiers engine in it was the same type he used for Go-Carting in the early days! And now I drive a car that looks just like everbody elses - oh for the days of the independent designers / manufacturers! (You start to get melancholy at a certain age) Frank Cooper

Posted By Jay Joshi The Royal Enfield "Bullet" continues to be manufactured in India long after the demise of the parent British company. For details, visit www.royalenfield.com

Posted By George Wedgwood Well Phil, I have all the excuses that have been posted and isn't it funny that you get more responses to this query than one on pallet trucks? Perhaps it's because this pricks our consciences and makes us feel a bit guilty. Anyway, I do not have a lot of expertise on pallet trucks either but a lot about general safety management and the need for managers to ensure that procurement, training, maintenance and competence are all attended to and maintained, for all such work equipment. Where competence is not in house, the manager must ensure it is bought in and that all checks and training etc are recorded. Only by having a system can the work equipment be safely managed. Shortcuts, particularly on maintenance and periodic checks, are a common source of failure. In respect of specialist response, I pick up Martin's point and have taken action already as Chair of the Specialist Groups Steering Committee. I have specifically requested that all Group Chairs ensure that sufficient members are registered with HQ and the SGSC, to ensure that each Group can deal with requests for specific comment and answers to appropriate requests for information. This action will appear in the minutes of our last meeting, last week. I believe that this will ensure that IOSH becomes the informed source of opinion and information on all SHEQ topics. As far as attending to regular commentary on Chat topics, I do try and set aside an hour most Fridays to answer queries - but as I, too am often abroad, this can be difficult in all but the best equipped airline lounges! (Singapore is the best with free Internet access) So watch this space! Regards, George Wedgwood

Posted By Bryn Maidment Tony I did mention this in my previous post re: probationary 2 wheel period. This was part joke part serious......but scrub the serious bit - i just thought about black cab drivers so clearly that idea would probably have no effect if they're anything to go by!! (for those not in London, the Knowledge is conducted from decrepit mopeds)

Posted By Ken Taylor We used to get more women than men on our motorcycle training scheme. Come to think of it, I have probable seen more women volunteers for health and safety and first aid training than men. Presumably women are more likely to recognise the need for training and men less likely to want to admit this. Road and home accident statistics tend to support this theory.

Posted By Phil Roberts Hi all I started this thread to see if I was missing out and you had all moved to another forum but it seems I have woken a sleeping giant. I know the registration and log in is a bit of pain and the protectionist polically correct moderation can be frustrating it is still nice to get a good debate going. What is it about H&S people and motor bikes? I started on a Honda 50, I know not really a "Bike" but I bought it because the shop were giving away a free ticket for the Liverpoo/Everton derby game which were as rare as rocking horse "****" at the time, I progressed to a Frannie Barnet 197 but mine was maroon and had a dodgy clutch. I moved on to an Arial Leader with a fully covered engine, by the way a Square Four was an Arial and not a Douglas as previously mentioned. As for the debate about female-v-male driver's/ trainee's it is sure to go on for a while I hope. A good topic will always elicit a good debate and I'm Looking foward to it, Regards to all Phil

Posted By Nick Higginson Ok, I've got a few comments: 1. I look at the forum every day, but never log in because I'm at work and can't be bothered (at least I'm honest). The advice is great, but I rarely have time to log in and get involved. I will from now on, I promise. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why few people respond? i.e. the login procedure. 2. Not all car drivers are bad. I am 24, and consider myself a careful driver, especially with 2 young daughters in the back. I very often curse motorcycle riders who weave in and out of traffic though! 3. I enjoy being on courses with women much more than with men (maybe it's just me?) because discussion is more open, and there is a lot less competition.

Posted By Bryn Maidment Certainly has expanded the debate! Age is no barrier to motorcycling. Being a tad past the big 40 doesn't stop me enjoying the odd track day at Brand Hatch (Paddock Hill Bend is SO completely scary)or riding EVERY week of the year. For inspiration look no further than Len Vale-Onslow MBE, 100yrs+ and still riding his family marque SOS (Super Onslow Special). Caravans - the vicious streak in me gets hysterical watching car drivers reversing caravans. A special licence should be compulsory to tow a 'van. Despite good training, passing an exam and having their own life (and sometimes others') in their right hand that still doesn't stop the aberrant behaviour of some motorcyclists (uncanny parallels with work-related safety!!). Likewise the lame excuse of "Sorry, didn't see you" when the car driver didn't look, was eating toast, applying lippy, using the mobile or had a yappy dog/kids bouncing around the car should also be treated as driving without due care. Time to go - sounding like an anorak!

Posted By Ken Urquhart For DOT. In reply to your Aberdeen question. Sorry Dot, but I do not know. However I am a Scot and I am responding from Hong Kong and I am biker of the pedal power variety, a Tandem rider. Over the years my wife and I have had great fun battling the elements and other road users as we powered our way on Trunk Roads, Highways and Byways in The UK, Ireland, France, where by the way you are cheered and encouraged as if you were the Yellow Jersey wearer in The Tour De France. (Substance Abuse Policy complied with) Now Safety on a Tandem is significant, for not only has the machine to be well maintained and mechanically sound, the stoker has to have absolute faith in the front rider. Talk about risk assessment, you have to observe as you ride along, assess the condition and situation and against the wind and the traffic noise keep your partner pedaler well informed of what you are about to do, preferably before you do it. probably the same with Motorbikes,(They never really appealed to me) The problem we discovered with Tandems or cycling is sadly that many other road users as earlier contributors have said are selfish, arrogant and blind. However we are still around to tell the tales and we have the photographs and the memories. I would'nt/could'nt cycle in Hong Kong however, Now this is where driving takes on a whole new perspective, Oh well, a discussion for anothr time. Regards to all contributors and yes we are all still out here and can and do respond as and when time, knowledge and circumstances prmit Regards. Ken

Posted By Steve Crookes To all you bikers I say Ha!! I,m a volvo driver so beware!! I'm also a Harley rider. Volvo drivers are not all bad.

Posted By Bryn Maidment Sorry Steve but I couldn't resist it!! ;-) Stick with the Volvo, at least it corners, has brakes, doesn't remove your fillings and can breach the M.way limit without leaving you requiring a huge dose of aspirin! Still, sticking to 60 IS safer. ps you don't have to wear chaps either!! pps Volvo T5 is probably cheaper too!!