I thought, shall I post that to the IOSH forums?  Then I had a meeting, so didn't get round to it.

I wondered how the crane hire compnay (and the council) cover themselves in the event that someone does fall off or a load drops on someone.  Clearly the people climbing the bonfire are not at work (and I'm sure the council employees stay securely at ground level), but does the crane hire company have a lifting plan?  Does it say 'anyone you turns up will sling the load, and the driver will follow the instruction of whoever has the loudest voice'?

Mostly though (if I'm honest) I thought about how glad I am that I don't live in an area with that level of sectarianism.  I thought the people wheeled out at the end ('intimidation, provocation? eh, that's just teh what we do round here') did their cause no favours.

Yes, I think it’s wrong on so many levels (unintentional WAH joke there!)

I assume the volunteers scrambling up the side are just that and if they fall nobody is held liable but what about the council employees and the crane operator.

What would happen if it was to topple in a high wind who would be liable for the death and destruction?

Did they say that in was made  from 20 grands worth of pallets? Of course this the land of ‘ash for cash’  so  I would not be surprised if  the difference between what was spent and what was bought was not significant.

And of course it preserves entrenched sectarian attitudes, but I suspect its mainly for the kids. After all this is a tradition for them to pass on…

Do you think the people at CHEP (blue pallets) will be collecting their rentals back?

The enviromentalist in me shakes my head at this. There are much more efficient, cleaning and safer ways to express your bigotry.

5th November

I suspect that if it all went horribly wrong, there would be potential for criminal and/or civil legal action, and I think that those who own the crane would have some very difficulty questions to answer, including perhaps from their insurers.

Security image is testing my understanding of the points of the compass.

With his only safety device "a roll of sticky back plastic"

There are glimpses of the finished edifice and the start of its burn at https://www.irishtimes.c...e-in-the-north-1.4617924

Also has comments to camera from a few more locals.  They are at least talking more about the positives than the last cited video, though it's still only going to be about improving cohesion within one part of the community.  Still glad I don't have to live in the midst of it.