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
