I’d just like to share my experiences with the recent Health & Safety issues at my company premises.
Following a visit by the local fire officer, we were issued with an enforcement notice that basically meant we have had to make many major changes to our offices including the removal of doors, replacement of doors and additional fire exits. Also, illuminated signs, push bars, notices, plastering, bricking up a couple of doors etc etc.
We were ordered to replace a sliding PVCu patio door which acted both as an office door and a show patio. We had to replace this with a door and sidelight, as apparently, it would be difficult for our staff to escape in the case of fire. This same office also has THREE six foot, equal split windows, with full tilt & turn openings to one half.
However, our staff have had no problems getting out at 5pm every day for the past 10 years!
Further we had to get all the electrical appliances re-tested which cost us £800 for the equipment to carry this out ourselves.
I daren’t even think how much it has all cost, however I do agree with some of the changes.
OK, here’s the best one. Another Health & Safety guy came round and suggested that the noise levels in our frame factory were probably too high due to the steel saw but our fabricators already wore ear protection because we were already aware of this.
Despite this, he ordered to get the noise levels monitored to confirm this, at a cost of around £1500. I challenged this as I accepted that the noise levels were high which is why our fabricators already wear ear protection but he just wouldn’t accept it.
So we went ahead and had the test which of course confirmed that our staff needed ear protection and I paid over the £1500. I won’t publish my exact thoughts on here as it may offend someone.
In my opinion, some of it was necessary, some of it not, and I don’t like the smarmy attitude of the Health & Safety guys on a power trip, there’s just no need for it.
Guest post by David Bingham of ConservatoryLand
This is one of the problems in the world at the moment. It is driven form the healthy values of respect for everyone and their rights. But, when it goes over the top it starts to become destructive by denying the reality that you cannot have a perfectly safe and equitable world, at times you simply have to get on with things.
A healthy world is one in which the healthy entrepreneurial values and balanced by the healthy welfare values. Either one starts to win out at the expense of the other and the result is either exploitative business practise or excessive regulation and political correctness.
http://righttobe.wordpress.com
This is why I love India so much. The complete opposite applies there.
RCG
Jon, I think I understand what you mean and yes, agreed.
You seem to discussing sbjects close to my heart in recent days, close to my heart for all the wrong reasons. Health & Safety the world has gone mad my staff need training if they wish to climb a step ladder in the work place even though they can do so without training at home, should we be made stand in line to take some sort of test at B&Q before we purchase a ladder or carry a driving licence type card to tell people we are qualified to climb a step ladder.
Some years ago in a past life I was visted by a young lade from the HSE to carry out a factory assesment. Before entering the factory she donned all her PPE before entering including hard hat and hi vis jacket. When confronted by an Urban SV530 corner cleaner she was most concerned and proceeded to take photos so as to get advise about the machine, which by the way was only 2 month old and was fully guarded. When I asked what her issue was with the machine she replied what’s to stop an operator leaning over in to the machine during the working cycle and putting his or her hands in the cutting blade, to which I replied I wouldn’t give a job to anyone that stupid. Should employees not take on some responsibility for their own safety?
Just consider this: we have around 2.5 million unemployed in the UK. It would be significantly higher if it were not for the H&S industry that keeps so many jobsworths in work. Overzealous Health & Safety is a scourge but of course, we must all be protected in our workplaces. But where is the balance and who provides it? H&S and the people that run it are self-perpetuating.
I’m just going through all the risk assessments and I’ve realised I can not run a window fitting company by complying to all current rehulation so I’m changing my name to:
“Greenway Health and safety windows and conservatories not installed at your home unless your home and surrounding area is on perfectly flat ground and I can fix my ladders to your wall with fixing bolts Ltd”
I think it’s quite catchy and I would rank quite well for alot of searches on the internet too, the adword spend may increase slightly though.
I whole heartidly agree that sites should be safe for staff and clients alike but sometimes you would like to think that we would give people the credit to be able to use their own common sense, we are getting a nation of PC idiots no wonder all the manufacturing plants are moving abroad, they don’t have to put up with dim witted H&S guys.. Not all of them are like this mind, I’ve got a cracking guy helping me anyone who wants their number give me a bell.
Well it seems to me that many health & safety officers need to have a little more respect and common sense. I’d love to say more but I don’t want to encourage a costly revenge attack
OK, OK so their are some safety professionals who are a little OTT. I see two sides to safety
1. Protecting the business – Compliance fines, Claims, reputation and lost time
2. People leaving as they came to work – avoiding injury/death/ill health in the first place
Its sometimes a dificult ballance and cant comment on your personal experiances. Safety law leaves alot to Employers disgression and this can be a good or bad thing at times.
Some professionals are aware and working towards improving the image of “Elf and safety” including the HSE with sensible risk management.
I offer set-up & support in key H&S requirements to new & Small businesses from only£1/day (£365/year) with an aim to simple, jargon free, sensible safety. All I am saying is with Blame claims culture the media and a few over zellous “Advisors” dont be turned off to real safety and their are some Advisors who really want to help being a benifit to business.
If any one wants to chat about this or has a question wisit mprince.co.uk and visit the free advice page.
Mark
I understand full body harness and lanyard, fixed to a secure point, is required for all window fitters when working above ground floor, so as to ensure that should they topple out of the opening the restraint will save them.
Excuse me Mrs customer but can I screw my eye bolt into your wardrobe or would the wall be OK.
You couldn’t make it up.
Most legislation is non perscriptive and asks for assessment to be carried out. You must control risk “so far as is reasonably practicable” that means weighing up the severity and risk against the cost, time, technology, environment and so on. . . In other words the Law is not sugesting you go full hog but apply common sence and reasonable control.
Its the 21st century! we need to respect peoples safety and not let safety stop us, just make sure its always a concideration.
Mark
I agree with Mark
It’s no different from any other industry in that there are people out there who are going to charge you for stuff you don’t need.
Just like Banks, Motor Garages, Insurance companies, estate agents, lawyers and solicitors, anyone who makes anything that sells you extended warranties, plumbers, electricians, builders, IT suppliers etc.
I’ve no doubt that everyone here selling anything tries to get the customer to sign up or buy something that they don’t really need.
Like with any other area of business get a load of different quotes and see what they come up with. If you get 4 quotes and 3 of them say you need the noise monitoring then think about having it done. If it doesn’t sound like common sense then question it.