Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
23 January 2009
12:4613589#1
This morning I heard about a business in Canterbury area that had a visit from the Health and Safety Executive who instructed them to make a lot of expensive changes and equipment purchases.
This firm bought in a specialist consultant of my acquaintance who was able to do a full audit and found that much of what the HSE were asking was unnecessary. The outcome is that the business saved around £30,000.
A lot of businesses would have just caved in to the demands of the HSE and in such difficult times it may well have closed them down.
If you hear of any other businesses who get targetted by the HSE vultures suggest they get an independent consultant to review it. If anyone wants a contact to challenge the HSE then I will gladly supply a name, feel free to mention me. At the moment businesses need as much help as they can get.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
23 January 2009
13:0213592#2
BarryW if you look at the other thread about Asbestos just up this morning you will see that the Health and Safety Exec are performing vital work to protect employees.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
23 January 2009
13:1513595#3
I do not doubt that they often do very good work PaulB but they do often over egg a situation.
They do not have to consider profitablility and the jobs of those who work in the businesses they target. They often go for the gold plated option and to really mix metaphors they might go for the belt when just the braces will do.
I am not suggesting that business ignore H&C or be in any way cavalier about it, but by getting a good professional consultant to review a case they can bring more of a sense of balance to the situation. The lady who this Canterbury businesses consulted did agree with H&C on many points but had the knowledge to challenge the HSE where they went over the top.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
23 January 2009
16:5213612#4
They do go over the top at times and it cost cash and time, lets just take one thing Safety harness you now have to where them from 2meters and above at two meters if you fall you will hit the ground first at does not work till you are about 8 to ten ft off the ground, one more for you to look at is the high vis vest you have to put on thats good so they can see you but if like me you are a welder or burner they can catch light and burn I have at times to get it off quick because it has been on fire, I have even been burn on the arms with them, but we must where them, hearing most sites you must wear hearing aids to help stop the noise but if you are on avery big site you need to hear what is going on around you because when you are welding to can not see, some years ago I was working along side a big crane welding and the grane was lifting and its jib broke I heard "vic look out , i roll over if i had not heard that i would not be telling you about it today.
vic matcham
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
23 January 2009
18:5113637#5
the idea of a health and safety executive is excellent as exemplified by the asbestos post.
however, in my experience, they seem to attract pedantic people who like to have control over others.
anyone can go into a workplace and identify hazards
hazards are a part of life, most peoples houses have wires trailing all over.
don;t tell the HSE though, they will be round.
