Posted By Ken M Morning folks. I came across something the other day which started the old grey matter working. Let me paint the picture for you. Myself and a colleague work in the industry and I would say are enthusiastic about the subject. Whilst at work we endeavour to do are utmost to ensure that health and safety is well managed. On a Wednesday evening we play 7 aside football on an all weather AstroTurf pitch with some other friends outside of work. We have done this for many years. The pitch in question is caged like most these days but the top/roof of it is open. Therefore the ball tends to be kicked out of the pitch area and then land outside. Trouble is immediately behind one of the goals is the adjoining leisure centre and from time to time those less gifted players do tend to shot and the ball ends up on the roof of the centre. The roof has 3 large pitches and 2 flat gullies in between where the ball will typically land. Access from the ground to this flat area is around 8-9 feet. Edges are protected from the sides and to one end by pitched roofs which are fairly steep and no one requires access to them. It has become practice to bunk one of the slighter and lighter players up to retrieve the ball and then assist them down. That is 2 people help lift one other onto the flat area to retrieve the ball. He then walks in a straight line retrieves the ball and then descends the roof supported by the same 2 people. My colleague and I have both never discouraged this method as we have both sort of switched off from work mode and it is leisure time. That said, our players were caught the other day by the leisure centre manager and we were told in no uncertain terms not to access the roof to retrieve the ball. Should the ball end up on the roof it must remain their until the morning when staff can access the roof by footed ladder in day light and retrieve the ball. Both my colleague and I understand that this is the most sensible method and have kicked ourselves for not really practicing what we preach. Whilst we cannot control our fellow players and it really is up to them what they do we will discourage access to the roof. I have since discussed the matter with the manager of the leisure centre and an order has been placed for higher metal mesh at that area. I suggested some of the netting you see these days to stop the ball leaving the pitch area altogether. Sorry for the long winded story but it got me thinking whether other people out there practice what they preach or simply switch off when then go home for the day?

Posted By Raymond Rapp Ken Who would admit they DON'T? Short story, whilst at my local golf club I noticed a member, who is also a senior EHO, using the nozzle of a compressed air jet to clean out some home equipment. The compressed air has been provided for golfers to clean their golf shoes. Anyway, dust and all sorts was being blasted into the air by the EHO, when I walked up behind him and said: " I hope you have a section 60 for that." He turned round and said something to the effect "... of all the people it would be you..." Then admitted with a wry smile that he had prosecuted for less! As for me - Snow White springs to mind. Ray

Posted By Tony abc jprhdnMurphy Stepladders and permit actually

Posted By William How many of us use safety glasses when using the drill at home? or use gloves when cleaning the oven, or practice correct manual handling techniques when taking the shopping out of the car. How keen are we all to purchase these items for our health and safety from our own pocket for our own personal safety at home?

Posted By Merv Newman I've always maintained that what two (or more) consenting adults do is their own business. Particularly if it is off-the-job, so to speak. Merc

Posted By TBC Talking about grass cutting. Many years ago a friend of mine was cutting the grass on one of those sit-on movers and stone shot out from below, ricochet off the another rock and hit him in the eye - he was blinded in that eye by it. He is very safety conscious as we both worked for a big petro-chemical company at the time, but like the rest of us he thought he was safe on top.

Posted By Barry Cooper I have to admit that last summer, I was trimming the conifers with electric shears. I thought I would do it properly (or almost) and got out two trestles and a plank. because I didn't want to damage the flower bed, I positioned one trestle on the edge of the bed. The plank was now far to long, so I placed it with one end overhanging a trestle by about 4 foot. I then climbed up onto the plank and began to cur the hedge. As I was concentrating on the job in hand, I forgot about the overhang, and walked onto it. As I fell, I threw the shears away from me, and landed on my wife's favourite shrub. Of course she was watching, I wasn't hurt badly, except my pride and the shrub totally destroyed, and I then got the lecture, and then again, and again and again. Barry

Posted By MAK can I take the fifth...I "attempt" to ride horses in my spare time...!

Posted By Dave Merchant I was once told by a private medical insurer that they wouldn't cover me because "with your hobbies you'll be dead before the premiums clear". They were only half right.