Posted By D Tadman
Hi,
I have witnessed an unsafe practice within the last hour and tried to report it to HSE! Failed. It would seem that they do not have the manpower to go and investigate and without the contractors name they can do nothing. I am shocked.
There is a new building being erected at present and it is in the 'open structure' state. There is a man in a cherrypickers putting up railing on the top of the beams. He is wearing a harness but it isn't hooked onto anything and he has been climbing out of the cherrypicker onto the top beam of this building and walking along it fixing various parts, but isn't attaching his harness to anything. There is a man in another cherrypicker at the other end putting up safety netting, but it is nowhere near the first guy.
I am not in a situation that I can identify the contractors and so it would seem that we just have to pray that he doesn't fall to the ground!
What can be done about this?

DT

Posted By ClaireL
They don't have the manpower. So if they rushed out to every complaint with the little manpower that they have they would never investigate accidents or carry out inspections etc etc.

Whilst I understanding that this is not right it is the way it is becuuase there is insufficent funding.

We all see dangerous practice all the time (and I did when I was an inspector too - if I was 'off-duty' I ignored it). Nowadays, if it's not my clients or I'm not at work I stay out of it. Sounds harsh but it's not your problem and you'd never have a life if you chased down all the bad practice that was out of your control.

If you want to do something positive, then if there is a company sign nearby, ring them up and tell them what's going on, as you'll get a more done that way.

Posted By A Campbell
Clair,

It sounds pretty harsh to 'turn the other cheek' so to speak.
I understand the contraints regarding manpower, but as a safety proffesional I would at least do what I could and at the end of the day feel satisfied that was the case.
Not sure how I would feel if I saw... or read about a fatality from working at height and knew that I could have saved a life!

There is only so much we can do but is also a moral dilema that each person has to live with for the rest of their lives.

I also live with experiences that were out of my hands at the time, but never forgotten and proberly never will!

Posted By Dave Merchant
I agree with ClaireL - it's the HSE's job, and the fact they can't do it properly doesn't suddenly make it our job to cover for them. If we did, someone would probably cut their funding even more. They'll get more resources when people have more accidents.

By Tony's logic, not only would you not be making the phone call, but you'd never have noticed the work at height because you'd be too busy trying to stop speeding motorists - since they're statistically more likely to cause a death.

If you want to make a difference, take a photo, post it online and let everyone use it to teach others how to work safer.

Posted By Ian Blenkharn
Concerned about an unsafe practice?

Worried about the risks to a worker on a rooftop without effective fall protection?

Not sure what to do, or who to turn to?

Attract his atention to point out the error of his ways.

BOO! should do just fine.

He will soon learn

Posted By D Tadman
Thank you for your varied responses.

I have since taken note of who the principal contractor is and will let HSE know tomorrow.

I am however somewhat dismayed by a few of the responses and feel that sarcarism was not very helpful.

DT

Posted By ClaireL
I can only see one response that was sarcastic.

Which other responses were you unhappy with?

Posted By Anthony Edwards
Tony,

Unfortunately in todays society the receiver of the information, no matter how good a communicator you are, could at best take on board your comments or, tell you to go away in short jerky movements, or at worst become violent towards you. (Its an every day occurance road rage etc).

Posted By Phil Errup
I once went to Spain. My hotel was next to a construction site. In that time I saw no "adequate" PPE, blatant disregard for members of public especially the bikers in the area (whome I might add did not seem to be wearing crash helmets), the welfare facilities were somewhat less than suitable and sufficient, and there wasn't a single risk assessment in the wheelbarrow they affectionally called "the office." The banksman seemed to wave in the right direction but also skipped about a lot to avoid being hit by the bucket of cement on the end of the hook. I was going to get him a hard hat from his site office, but there wasn't one.
On the top floor they weren't wearing harnesses but the rope tied around their waist did look like it was good quality.

Did I sleep at night? Oh hell yes.

Needless to say if someone under my control was making a prat of him/herself by taking unnessary risks I'd soon take the necessary action. But I'm not going to charge around telling people what to do and how. In this particular case though I would have. As the solution would be an easy one.

Treat them like adults and you don't risk getting the punch on the nose. Tell them you are only saying what you are because you have a duty too, however what they decide to do with it is up to them.

So there is always going to be a time to take action, and a time when it just isn't going to make any difference.

Phil

Posted By Ian Blenkharn
I certainly did not want to upset or offend, though the sarcasm was quite intentional.

Why? Borne from a considerable experience of folk jumping in with an over-zealous, and often ill-judged, approach to H&S matters - a quick glance, a snap judgement based on limited observation and no background or further information, and its off to the HSE. Expect an immediate turn-out and probably the full weight of the law. After all, its dangerous, I know, I saw it, so it must be!

Reasons for the non-attendance of HSE have been discussed. One that has not been mentionned is that the weight of evidence in the report would probably have been rated no higher than from Joe public. ie, the whole thing may be mis-reported and a waste of the limited resources that others have mentionned.

What happens next? Well, probably nothing, but rest assured if it all does go disatrously wrong someone will crawl out of the undergrowth with that hackneyed H&S favorite "I'm not responsible for this, I'm only an adviser!"

Yes, more sarcasm. And that too borne from experience (not me, Guv, never said that in my life, but I do vehemently resent those who do and hide behind such a statement in order to absolve themselves from the responsibilities of their position).

If D Tadman is honestly distressed about the issues, then I hope my sarcasm hasn't worsened that distress in any way. That wasn't my intention. However, and taking the wider view, my advice is leave it alone. If you don't, life would become intolerable due to the numerous unacceptable and frankly dangerous events that each one of us can witness on an almost daily basis.

Posted By Ian Blenkharn
Don't shake too hard, someone might decide you're putting yourself at risk and want to report it!

Posted By Ucan
Why is it that many threads on this forum end up with sarcastic comments and then into a slanging match, I have never come across such a forum with SOME highly experienced people being so childish at times.

I can imagine people are put off by commenting or asking questions. It’s not good!