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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
There is no duty in law for anyone to maintain a confined space Register, many water companies do it as good practice after conducting a risk assessment on them , they then Categorise them accordingly and enter the category on a register, this helps contractors/maintenance workers establish safe systems of work for each category, as far as domestic premises go apart from cellars or plant rooms i can't think of where confined spaces would figuer or of a significant risk involved
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
Hi Will there is legislation in place for the restriction of young persons operating certain types of machinery or engaged in specific work processes, it unfortunately it only applies to places of work of which schools are not (except for teachers and staff of course)
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
As an ex driving examiner, this may have something to do with the fact that you cannot fail your test on the signs test alone, this is done at the end of the practical test by the examiner , if the candidate has passed the practical test they can flunk the signs test but must still be passed overall, as it is assumed that by passing the practical they must have complied with the road signs along the route, makes a mockery of doing the signs test, students however know this through their instructors, therefore do not study the highway code as much as they should.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
I am aware that searches can be conducted to deter theft, i am unsure of what you are trying to achieve with searches for drugs and alcohol as iv'e never heard of anyone that has done it, surely your policy on D&H incorporates random testing
that in itself is a more positive indication of their use rather than the possession of.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
Tim P your "ungratefullness" is typical of the attitude that prevails amongst those who have had it easy "The world owes mw a living, and i'm here to collect"
Apart from serving overseas in combat zones, away from their families, who do you think put fires out when the firemen were on strike ? Who cleared the streets of thousands of bin bags when the dustmen were on strike, who are the people called out to help you out of your homes in times of flooding etc, the fact that you can read this means that you should thank your teacher, the fact that you are reading it in ENGLISH means you should thank a serviceman.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
As a Health and Safety practioner for over 20 years i ike you all are probably sick to death of hearing that same old clich'e "Safety is just common sense" the total flaw in the statement is that everyone is credited with common sense !
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
Hi James good advice from Kellys pro, just to give you some idea of the considerations for risk assessment, you should look at your client base for involvment with Animal transpotation abroad, animal testing laboratories, right wing organisations etc it may be that the first line client is not immediatley involved but has a peripheral involvement or association, not easy how far do you delve ? depends how big you are and size of your client base.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
Google a company called VOCAM they are a bit pricey but very good quality and content.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
This is pure speculation as are most of the comments posted about this new act, as long as companies have policies and procedures on safe driving, speed limit adherence, mobile phones etc etc, the contolling mind in that organisation will not be prosecuted under this act unless , they are proven to be negligent in managing their H&S issues, ie that they conived, consented and condoned a dangerous practice that led to the death of a person, i believe that road deaths attributed to a company driver driving recklessly would be of the more difficult to level at a director who has all of his policies and systems in place (unless he was in the cab at the time) also remember that the offence of causing death by dangerous driving has not been replaced by the act and will render a driver (employed or not ) guilty if recklessness is proven on police investigation and subsequent CPS recommendations,until a precedent is set i find all this scare mongering unhelpful and irresponsible.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
DIY carried out in the home by someone "Not at work" is not subject to any H&S legislation !!! Never has been.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
I totally disagree RIDDOR reporting centres will be inundated with reports of Fatalities, Major injuries and over 3 day absences, which have to be reported within a 10 day timescale, if the resulting police investigation indicates that the other driver was at fault, there will need to be a retraction of the fatality against the company who reported it,thereby doubling the clerical impact on the reporting centre ! the same could be said if it was indeed the fault of the employed driver, who drove recklessly, an employer having no control over that act, RIDDOR is as comprehensive as it needs to be. The HSE are considering company vehicles falling within PUWER which would yield benifits.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
Surely all these adult people volunteer to do this !! There would not be a judge in the land that would hold any culpability against those performing this ceremony if they did everything "Reasonable" to make it safe, as adults that volunteer to do this they are aware of the procedure of being emmersed and accept the risks associated with it !! i think the defence in law would be "Volenti non fit injuria"
Risk assessment Pah !!
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
I wonder when these agaencies as well meaning as they are are going to wake up to the realities of industry, particularly in small and medium sized companies, who do not have the financial resources to employ the services of occupational physios, or to buy the latest mechanical equipments, it is a fact of life that the majority of skilled and semi skilled people work with thier hands and perform intricate movements that machinery cannot replicate, therefore in these sizes of companies there will be no response to appeals such as these, a director friend of mine was pressured by HSE to introduce more automation, he did and it resulted in redundancies, A rock and hardplace spring to mind !!!!
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
I suppose now we can expect to see prosecutions of the various government agencies tha have lost laptops with tens of thousands of peoples personal details on them ??? Doubtful doesn,t look good when the crown prosecutes the crown .
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
Hi Neil i would recommend that you highlight the salient points of the report in a structured, systematic way, having given an introduction as to the "purpose" of the report, try and restrict the areas of observation, too many will lead to a confusing, hard to navigate report, not to mention the "Headache" factor, remember that reports are not to demonstate how clever you are (even tho thats what you are trying to do for an exam)they are to provide management with comprehensive, easy to read information. Your report will be better received and responded to if it contains accurate "Conclusions" and "Recommendations" no manager likes to get reports that give them the task of having to analyse the required responses. your recommendations should include What needs to be done, By Who, in what time scale (urgency) any training required, (Very important is costs and imacts on the company) both positive and negative, i.e benifits in increased production etc. Good luck
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
Hi Dave the regs as they stand are applicable to the uk only OR within UK territorial waters, or on any UK controlled ship, aircraft, or offshore installation, your question was if the death was caused by the corporate acts or ommissions within the UK ? Notwithstanding the above critera i can only think that if there is a government warning to not go to certain countries experienceing "unrest" and you dispatch your employee anyway , who is subsequently killed you may be subject to some scrutiny, its early days .
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
Richard the "Work at hieght regs" state that this type of work must be "Properly planned, including the selection of appropriate equipment" having regard to the work being carried out, it also must be properly supervised, these are "Absolute duties" A risk assessment should also be produced, therefore if it is necessary to open the gate in the course of thier work then they should have fall arrest equipment, i personally advocate its use in all mobile work platforms, as it caters for overreaching and being "Catapulted out" if struck by other plant operating in the area. Hope this helps.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
I think if everyone addressed the original situation I.E taxi drivers, rather than respond to eachothers glib ,periferal situational creations Robert Davey might arrive at a sensible conclusion to his enquiry. Yes Robert its a good idea to have one of these things, the conditions of your licence may dictate it. Take advice on the best type to buy and how to use it, as a vehicle fire does not allow much time to "Read the label" With reference to other members comments on use it if "Safe to do so" How do you know how far a fire is progressed under your bonnet ??
Some members in my opnion have it right , Get out retire to a place of safety call the brigade, thats why you have insurance and as a chartered safety practioner of many years thats what i would advise my kids to do.
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
I agree with Iian on this however with vehicles the issue is when to use it and when to run !
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Geoff Porteous
Member - 24 posts
I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST DIFFICULTY COMPLYING WITH DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT REGS OR DEFENDING A CLAIM FOR INJURY OR CONDITION SHOULD YOU SANCTION THE USE OF THESE THING WHICH ARE DEEMED AS FIT FOR INTENDED PURPOSE I.E EXCERSISE BEWARE 11
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