Safety! Am I really that old???

[vxwestie]

This is a little tongue and cheek, but at 42 I'm beginning to feel like a bit of a dinosaur in the trade when it comes to safety.
Whilst I appreciate the need to obey the rules and lunacy of the big sites, but is there any of use originals still left that use common sense over rules?

is there anyone still like me that goes to work wearing trainers and not steelies? Uses aluminium steps and ladders without fall arrest and fixings for the bottom? Is there anyone else who has never worn a hard hat for a day in their life, works on live equipment daily, walks on the bare rafters in the loft space, doesn't own ear defenders or goggles? Climbs on a chair, pallet, bucket or anything practical when being too lazy to walk to the van? Has never seen a 'risk assessment' let alone completed one! Has had the same 'hi viz' waistcoat in its wrappings for the last 5yrs?
Does anyone else still have the skill to use a shape Stanley knife? Does anyone else still trust their instincts of only do what is permitted by laws and regulations?
Does anyone else never wear gloves and use bits of cardboard and insulation tape to stop the flow of the red stuff?

Is there anyone else out there that were taught to use their common sense and still managing to be alive after 20+ years in the trade? Or am I the only survivor?

 

[ruston]

We had a local farmer did exactly that , with the knotter.

 

[PEG]

Do as i say not as i do XD i know the type and i do some of those things as well.

i was 4m up in a unit with legs wrapped around a steel beam while i threw it over the beam before i went down and started to climb a large ladder to connect the high bay lighting.

ive used a battery cherry picker after just being thrown the keys with the famous last words, " you will figure it out" take it out into the carpark to get used to the controls

...I remember giving evidence,at a HSE investigation,where these very words,almost,were presented as part of the evidence of "training ",given to two painters.

They extended the 30 meter self-propelled boom,to almost full height,and traveled alongside a ship,in dry dock. Platform wheel went down a drain,and basket scribed an arc,on the ships' hull,which reached the ground,where their bodies were recovered...

Anyone who has had the pleasure of working in countries where there is no,safety,certainly appreciates efforts to improve this,here.

 

[shanky887614]

...I remember giving evidence,at a HSE investigation,where these very words,almost,were presented as part of the evidence of "training ",given to two painters.

They extended the 30 meter self-propelled boom,to almost full height,and traveled alongside a ship,in dry dock. Platform wheel went down a drain,and basket scribed an arc,on the ships' hull,which reached the ground,where their bodies were recovered...

Anyone who has had the pleasure of working in countries where there is no,safety,certainly appreciates efforts to improve this,here.

definitely but they were idiots for moving it while extended.

i had got a banksman and the path was clear, i also didnt move it while it was extended so perfectly safe.

im about 65kg (10stone) so even fully extended it wont be a problem

 

[ruston]

...I remember giving evidence,at a HSE investigation,where these very words,almost,were presented as part of the evidence of "training ",given to two painters.

They extended the 30 meter self-propelled boom,to almost full height,and traveled alongside a ship,in dry dock. Platform wheel went down a drain,and basket scribed an arc,on the ships' hull,which reached the ground,where their bodies were recovered...

Anyone who has had the pleasure of working in countries where there is no,safety,certainly appreciates efforts to improve this,here.

It wasn't much different in the early days here. Some of the machines were death traps too.

 

[Englishman]

Generally wear goggles when chasing, as well as a mask. Also wear a disposable rapist suit and mask when in attics. Knee pads all the time. Only wear gloves when I'm in filthy places. Steelies all the time unless doing a quick private job or just changing lights. Anything that risks my life, or my long term health, then I will always protect myself, think only an idiot wouldn't.

As for insulation tape, had it on my finger tonight after a mishap with a blade.

 

[ruston]

Generally wear goggles when chasing, as well as a mask. Also wear a disposable rapist suit and mask when in attics. Knee pads all the time. Only wear gloves when I'm in filthy places. Steelies all the time unless doing a quick private job or just changing lights. Anything that risks my life, or my long term health, then I will always protect myself, think only an idiot wouldn't.

As for insulation tape, had it on my finger tonight after a mishap with a blade.

Common sense is the answer . There is nowt tough about being prematurely knackered.

 

[Englishman]

Common sense is the answer . There is nowt tough about being prematurely knackered.

Didn't wear anything for the first year or so of my career, but am getting more and more safety conscious the older I get. I would rather see my kids and grandkids grow up than breathe **** into my lungs and die a painful, preventable, death.

 

[ruston]

Didn't wear anything for the first year or so of my career, but am getting more and more safety conscious the older I get. I would rather see my kids and grandkids grow up than breathe **** into my lungs and die a painful, preventable, death.

You have it in one.
I have been on the receiving end of one of the nasties and it is not nice

 

[Englishman]

You have it in one.
I have been on the receiving end of one of the nasties and it is not nice

When I think back, and remember using a chasing machine, without extraction, and with no mask or glasses, I can't actually believe it. Same as chasing sockets and breathing all of that in, and getting stones fly into your eyes. Madness really. I'm also convinced that fibreglass dust is far from safe, especially the old stuff.

 

[ruston]

When I think back, and remember using a chasing machine, without extraction, and with no mask or glasses, I can't actually believe it. Same as chasing sockets and breathing all of that in, and getting stones fly into your eyes. Madness really. I'm also convinced that fibreglass dust is far from safe, especially the old stuff.

We have all done that for expediency or from external pressure. It is only when it bites you on the bum that you realise what a fool you have been.

As for fibreglass, I fully agree with you .
I bet that is a hidden killer.

 

[PEG]

definitely but they were idiots for moving it while extended.

i had got a banksman and the path was clear, i also didnt move it while it was extended so perfectly safe.

im about 65kg (10stone) so even fully extended it wont be a problem

Moving whilst extended,is normal practice. Most of the larger self-propelled booms and scissors have this as a function.

Some have limited speed or a cut-out height,but moving at working height,is normal.

What has occurred over the last 30 years,is an increasing reliance,on safety features such as envelope management systems,and fail-safe functions.

In an attempt to make plant "idiot-proof",they have,on occasion,allowed idiots,to be pilots.

The old-school methods,of bringing operators through the ranks,with sound experience,and time in the saddle,has gone.

The modern way,seems to be short intensive courses,followed by short supervised experience,then reliance on equipment safety features and peer involvement.

....But,if a hair-dresser can do a short course,and inject Botox in yer birds' forehead,i don't see why an arsey 22 year old,who can't speak properly,shouldn't pilot a £200,000 30 tonne machine....what can go wrong? :dizzy2:

 

[shanky887614]

When I think back, and remember using a chasing machine, without extraction, and with no mask or glasses, I can't actually believe it. Same as chasing sockets and breathing all of that in, and getting stones fly into your eyes. Madness really. I'm also convinced that fibreglass dust is far from safe, especially the old stuff.

chasing machine? you lucky sod i was cutting meter boxes out with a grinder, same with chasing indoors and was not issued any dustmasks in my first year

 

[shanky887614]

Moving whilst extended,is normal practice. Most of the larger self-propelled booms and scissors have this as a function.

Some have limited speed or a cut-out height,but moving at working height,is normal.

What has occurred over the last 30 years,is an increasing reliance,on safety features such as envelope management systems,and fail-safe functions.

In an attempt to make plant "idiot-proof",they have,on occasion,allowed idiots,to be pilots.

The old-school methods,of bringing operators through the ranks,with sound experience,and time in the saddle,has gone.

The modern way,seems to be short intensive courses,followed by short supervised experience,then reliance on equipment safety features and peer involvement.

....But,if a hair-dresser can do a short course,and inject Botox in yer birds' forehead,i don't see why an arsey 22 year old,who can't speak properly,shouldn't pilot a £200,000 30 tonne machine....what can go wrong? :dizzy2:

yes, the one i was using can move extended at a greatly reduced speed, while there fully extended they rock up and down a lot so i can easy see how people get thrown out if they hit a pothole etc

 

[derek]

chasing machine? you lucky sod i was cutting meter boxes out with a grinder, same with chasing indoors and was not issued any dustmasks in my first year

Got to wear a dust mask when chasing even if you don't have a hard hat or high viz.

 

[davesparks]

I get to see both extremes of the scale. when I venture onto big sites I get the full PPE just to step through the door. But at the other end of the scale you have the fireworks industry.
As most of you will know already I am one of the owners of a fireworks display company and so work in that industry quite a bit. There is absolutely no regulation of the display industry as far as health and safety goes! The storage and manufacturing of fireworks is heavily regulated, but actual setting up and firing is a bit of a free for all!
We, as a company, do our level best to keep everyone safe by operating what is now a very old fashioned system of common sense and constant training and improvement. Generally we pair the new/least experienced people with the most experienced supervisors and try to swap the crews around so that everybody works with everybody else and shares knowledge and ideas.
There is a lot of advise and guidance around which suggests various ideas about safety precautions, but a lot of it is just not practical or even helpful.
One of the classic ones is the recommendation for full fireproof overalls and a hard hat with full face visor if you are lighting fireworks by hand. It sounds like a great idea until you try to look up to see where a firework goes and the hard hat slips or a firework goes off low and you end up with a fast moving burning star or bombette getting behind the visor!
We take a different approach, we do hand firing in our training sessions but all displays are planned and sent out as electrically fired displays, this way the crew can be a safe distance away from everything. This means we have tens of thousands of pounds invested in electric firing systems compared to the few hundred it would cost to get a few years supply of matches and tapers, but for the sake of safeguarding our crew it's a worthy investment.

 

[shanky887614]

I get to see both extremes of the scale. when I venture onto big sites I get the full PPE just to step through the door. But at the other end of the scale you have the fireworks industry.
As most of you will know already I am one of the owners of a fireworks display company and so work in that industry quite a bit. There is absolutely no regulation of the display industry as far as health and safety goes! The storage and manufacturing of fireworks is heavily regulated, but actual setting up and firing is a bit of a free for all!
We, as a company, do our level best to keep everyone safe by operating what is now a very old fashioned system of common sense and constant training and improvement. Generally we pair the new/least experienced people with the most experienced supervisors and try to swap the crews around so that everybody works with everybody else and shares knowledge and ideas.
There is a lot of advise and guidance around which suggests various ideas about safety precautions, but a lot of it is just not practical or even helpful.
One of the classic ones is the recommendation for full fireproof overalls and a hard hat with full face visor if you are lighting fireworks by hand. It sounds like a great idea until you try to look up to see where a firework goes and the hard hat slips or a firework goes off low and you end up with a fast moving burning star or bombette getting behind the visor!
We take a different approach, we do hand firing in our training sessions but all displays are planned and sent out as electrically fired displays, this way the crew can be a safe distance away from everything. This means we have tens of thousands of pounds invested in electric firing systems compared to the few hundred it would cost to get a few years supply of matches and tapers, but for the sake of safeguarding our crew it's a worthy investment.

im disapointed i had an image of you in my head of you lighting it with a match then ducking low to the ground, tongue out with fingers in your ears XD.

 

[davesparks]

im disapointed i had an image of you in my head of you lighting it with a match then ducking low to the ground, tongue out with fingers in your ears XD.

Don't worry, if it's just me and the other owner of the company working, or even one of us taking a show out solo then we do occasionally go for the manual option.

Plus of course the fireworks I had in the garden at home on New Years even were somewhat large for a small garden!

 

[malcolmsanford]

I can remember when working on Spec build (CAVE bashing) we used to make ladders out of 4"x2" saw benches for step ups out of T&G flooring, no hand rails above empty stair wells, burning bits of wood in a oil drum and toasting our sarnies,you youngsters have it easy now, soft that's what you are sof. All mollycoddled up lol, tin hat, steelies, ear defenders on ready for the comments I'm going to get. :wheelchair::hanged::nopity:

Just edited that for you there Pete

 

[Midwest]

I was about 15 when I first learnt to make a 'hop up' from 4x2 and I still make one now whenever doing a new build. Specific to the height of the ceilings there is no better...

Arrghhh, when I was 17 I used one of those p*****g things. Pulled me back 'hopping up' onto the damn thing. All these years later, still suffer, more so now I'm an old git. I'd only use them as firewood.

 

[ruston]

Moving whilst extended,is normal practice. Most of the larger self-propelled booms and scissors have this as a function.

Some have limited speed or a cut-out height,but moving at working height,is normal.

What has occurred over the last 30 years,is an increasing reliance,on safety features such as envelope management systems,and fail-safe functions.

In an attempt to make plant "idiot-proof",they have,on occasion,allowed idiots,to be pilots.

The old-school methods,of bringing operators through the ranks,with sound experience,and time in the saddle,has gone.

The modern way,seems to be short intensive courses,followed by short supervised experience,then reliance on equipment safety features and peer involvement.

....But,if a hair-dresser can do a short course,and inject Botox in yer birds' forehead,i don't see why an arsey 22 year old,who can't speak properly,shouldn't pilot a £200,000 30 tonne machine....what can go wrong? :dizzy2:

The saddle , or seat , is an expression I have not heard for a long time.
The 'banksman' and 'tipman' was another selection process that was used. They would work from , or around the machines and would know the process and operation of the machine before they were allowed anywhere near the 'handles' or 'seat'.
The 'experienced' applicants' would jump on a machine and be scrutinised by the wily old plant foreman, who would know in a crack if his backside had ever been in one before.
Mind you all this was when Adam was a boy.

 

[PEG]

Aye,you have to move with the times...which is why i have ceased to send my youngest lad,up the chimneys anymore...preferring to employ an adult goose,instead :hair:

 

[Spoon]

Aye,you have to move with the times...which is why i have ceased to send my youngest lad,up the chimneys anymore...preferring to employ an adult goose,instead :hair:

True mate, we do have to move with the times but things don't always improve.
At what age goes a goose become an adult....

 

[Paul.M]

Only read the first post (atm) but you have a really good point!

A few weeks ago I cut my finger down to the bone with a hacksaw! The 18 year old apprentice said "I'll get the first aid kit from your van". I just laughed and got blue tape from my toolbox. Well..... you have to use blue, the flow of blood has now been neutralized :rofl:

ok...fine...the first aid kit would have been better (I'm a first Aider and should know better lol) but it was a simple and clean cut, bit of tape and carry on regardless. The look on his face was priceless!! Just tape it up and get on with the job ffs.

 

[YoungBart]

I think something's are common sense, I would never go on site without steel toe capped boots, I see some lads wandering around in trainers and dread to think what would happen if they dropped something or stood on a nail etc. I would never drill (above my head at least) or angle grind etc without goggles.
But I don't see why I should wear gloves for connecting a socket up, The worst H&S Thing for me is the stupid podium step/scaffold rule, There is nothing wrong or unsafe about a correctly used pair of steps, And those who do use them incorrectly are just as likely to use a mobile scaffold incorrectly, At least falling from stepladders gives you a chance of trying to make a safe landing, Falling in a tower scaffold is like being in a cage.
I also feel sorry somewhat for some site managers, Having last year completed my SMST course some of the pressure they are under is ridiculous, Having to ensure everyone on site stays safe, Deal with complaints, keep the client happy and complete all the relevant paper work. It must be a nightmare.

 

[YoungScud]

This has reminded me of those conversation you have with your grandparents. You know, "Three hundred of us in a room and kitchen, rusty nails for breakfast, porridge skin shoes on our feet, but we were happy." Absolute tosh. The fact that you might have survived so far means nothing other than sheer luck. Too many good people haven't, and it wasn't always their fault. Yes, there are people like the OP still around. We call them dinosaurs.

 

[Pete999]

This has reminded me of those conversation you have with your grandparents. You know, "Three hundred of us in a room and kitchen, rusty nails for breakfast, porridge skin shoes on our feet, but we were happy." Absolute tosh. The fact that you might have survived so far means nothing other than sheer luck. Too many good people haven't, and it wasn't always their fault. Yes, there are people like the OP still around. We call them dinosaurs.

If I had my way I would horse whip you cheeky young whipersnapper lol

 

[malcolmsanford]

This has reminded me of those conversation you have with your grandparents. You know, "Three hundred of us in a room and kitchen, rusty nails for breakfast, porridge skin shoes on our feet, but we were happy." Absolute tosh. The fact that you might have survived so far means nothing other than sheer luck. Too many good people haven't, and it wasn't always their fault. Yes, there are people like the OP still around. We call them dinosaurs.

You know what son you must be a bundle of giggles having a pint with..................

The OP first few words were "tongue in cheek" and you have managed to insult him and revert to norm.

You have got to get out more, honestly try a smile first and then work your way up

 

[telectrix]

If I had my way I would horse whip you cheeky young whipersnapper lol

not allowed these days. anyway, he's probably been issued with steel lined underpants by H&S.

 

[Spoon]

The young are not allowed to smile. It's not cool to smile. All selfies have to have a sad face an a hand gesture that looks like you have a broken wrist and had a few finders amputated....

 

[YoungScud]

No stereotyping there then. As of the end of next month I'll be a pensioner.

 

[malcolmsanford]

No stereotyping there then. As of the end of next month I'll be a pensioner.

I'm assuming this is for me.................whether 18 or 80.........principle is basically the same, you need to lighten up a little........

 

[Spoon]

or it could be aimed at me, in which case I will stamp my feet, go into a sulk and cry for the rest of the day.....

 

[PEG]

No stereotyping there then. As of the end of next month I'll be a pensioner.

Nice lob back,over the net...

I accept that in some accidents,there is an element of "happenstance",but in the main,you lower your chances,by taking safety related choices.

...Or you would have to say,"Why bother looking left and right?...people get run over anyway..." :vanish:

 

[vxwestie]

Well, lots of different views in this thread!
Its obvious too that some people really are going too soft! For me safety is a personal thing, and my safety is my responsibility and no-one else. I will never rely on someone else to ensure my safety. It's my judgement as far as I'm concerned, if I trust myself not to be stupid enough to stand on a nail or drop something on my feet then I will continue to wear trainers, if I trust myself not to be stupid enough to work underneath someone working above me, I will continue not to wear a hard hat. If I trust myself not to be stupid enough to touch something live, then I'll continue to work on live apparatus. If a job is possible from a ladder or steps then i will make the job as easy and as cost effective as possible by doing so.
My personal safety is just that. Personal and as much as I can, I will be the one to judge what is safe and what is not. Afterall, I'm a qualified and experience operative, no-one knows better than i do.



edited to add,
my own reply has gotten me thinking.... Perhaps those who rely on safety and insist on the removal of all risk really are not capable of making the correct judgements for themselves or have the ability or confidence to be in control of their own well being?

 

[vxwestie]

You know what son you must be a bundle of giggles having a pint with..................

The OP first few words were "tongue in cheek" and you have managed to insult him and revert to norm.

You have got to get out more, honestly try a smile first and then work your way up

i can't take it serious enough to take offence.

But, yes, perhaps luck does have something to do with it, but not nearly as much as common sense, experience and knowledge.
perhaps in many people's eyes my methods aren't PC, but I continue in a successful business, make money, satisfy customers and do a good and professional job without all the pathetic softy safety approach. .... And I will certainly continue to do so.

 

[Barry White]

When I think back, and remember using a chasing machine, without extraction, and with no mask or glasses, I can't actually believe it. Same as chasing sockets and breathing all of that in, and getting stones fly into your eyes. Madness really. I'm also convinced that fibreglass dust is far from safe, especially the old stuff.

I am in the same oppinion about fibreglass Its the adbestos of the future

 

[YoungScud]

Well, lots of different views in this thread!
Its obvious too that some people really are going too soft! For me safety is a personal thing, and my safety is my responsibility and no-one else. I will never rely on someone else to ensure my safety. It's my judgement as far as I'm concerned, if I trust myself not to be stupid enough to stand on a nail or drop something on my feet then I will continue to wear trainers, if I trust myself not to be stupid enough to work underneath someone working above me, I will continue not to wear a hard hat. If I trust myself not to be stupid enough to touch something live, then I'll continue to work on live apparatus. If a job is possible from a ladder or steps then i will make the job as easy and as cost effective as possible by doing so.
My personal safety is just that. Personal and as much as I can, I will be the one to judge what is safe and what is not. Afterall, I'm a qualified and experience operative, no-one knows better than i do.



edited to add,
my own reply has gotten me thinking.... Perhaps those who rely on safety and insist on the removal of all risk really are not capable of making the correct judgements for themselves or have the ability or confidence to be in control of their own well being?[/QUOTE]


Here's the problem. No matter how you see it, safety is not a personal issue, it's at least in part a legal one, and with good reason. Without H&S legislation, how many more accidents do you think might happen? It's a hard one to judge, to be sure, so all we can really rely on is statistics from before and after safety began to be taken seriously, and that's all one way traffic. There is absoloutely no doubt whatsoever that sharing responsibility for safety between employers and employees has been a success in terms of numbers of accidents. H&S law ensures several things, none more important than its ability to stop unscrupulous employers from making unreasonable demands on their employees. It has given the employee the right to say, "No", to unsafe practices. It also gives a measure of protection to, for instance, tenants whose landlords might not otherwise give any thought to their safety.

It has never been suggested, at any time, that all risk can be removed. Health and Safety legislation doesn't even pretend to do that. What it does do, for the most part, is attempt to limit risk to individuals as much as it can. In fact, were it possible to eliminate all risk, PPE would be redundant, since it's really designed as a last line of defence against residual risk after all possible risks have been eliminated, isolated or removed. It was never intended that the law should replace personal risk assessment, but it is necessary, as a glance at accident stats before its introduction will show. It's never about you, it's about us.

As to the highligted section, it's exactly because most of us do care about our own health and those of us affected by our actions that we follow sensible principles. By the way, I'd love to know who those that "insist on the removal of all risk" are. I've never met one yet.

 

[vxwestie]

Well, lots of different views in this thread!
Its obvious too that some people really are going too soft! For me safety is a personal thing, and my safety is my responsibility and no-one else. I will never rely on someone else to ensure my safety. It's my judgement as far as I'm concerned, if I trust myself not to be stupid enough to stand on a nail or drop something on my feet then I will continue to wear trainers, if I trust myself not to be stupid enough to work underneath someone working above me, I will continue not to wear a hard hat. If I trust myself not to be stupid enough to touch something live, then I'll continue to work on live apparatus. If a job is possible from a ladder or steps then i will make the job as easy and as cost effective as possible by doing so.
My personal safety is just that. Personal and as much as I can, I will be the one to judge what is safe and what is not. Afterall, I'm a qualified and experience operative, no-one knows better than i do.



edited to add,
my own reply has gotten me thinking.... Perhaps those who rely on safety and insist on the removal of all risk really are not capable of making the correct judgements for themselves or have the ability or confidence to be in control of their own well being?[/QUOTE]


Here's the problem. No matter how you see it, safety is not a personal issue, it's at least in part a legal one, and with good reason. Without H&S legislation, how many more accidents do you think might happen? It's a hard one to judge, to be sure, so all we can really rely on is statistics from before and after safety began to be taken seriously, and that's all one way traffic. There is absoloutely no doubt whatsoever that sharing responsibility for safety between employers and employees has been a success in terms of numbers of accidents. H&S law ensures several things, none more important than its ability to stop unscrupulous employers from making unreasonable demands on their employees. It has given the employee the right to say, "No", to unsafe practices. It also gives a measure of protection to, for instance, tenants whose landlords might not otherwise give any thought to their safety.

It has never been suggested, at any time, that all risk can be removed. Health and Safety legislation doesn't even pretend to do that. What it does do, for the most part, is attempt to limit risk to individuals as much as it can. In fact, were it possible to eliminate all risk, PPE would be redundant, since it's really designed as a last line of defence against residual risk after all possible risks have been eliminated, isolated or removed. It was never intended that the law should replace personal risk assessment, but it is necessary, as a glance at accident stats before its introduction will show. It's never about you, it's about us.

As to the highligted section, it's exactly because most of us do care about our own health and those of us affected by our actions that we follow sensible principles. By the way, I'd love to know who those that "insist on the removal of all risk" are. I've never met one yet.

Whats a "risk assessment"?

 

[vxwestie]

The problem is actually that the H&S laws are destroying the trade and infact society in general. Of course safety should be a personal issue.

The ONLY people that benifet from the H&S laws and requirements are those who have manufactured work for themselves by creating them and the businesses who have jumped on the band wagon created by it. The general worker who is sensible and trained is hampered by the restrictions enforced upon him, the 'newby' or trainee into the trade is denied the right to be responsible for himself and enforced to rely on the requirements, they will never be granted the chance to apply common sense and as a result will be hampered by it. The businesses are ladened with the burden of the responsibilities and threats and last of all the customers/public are ultimately the ones who have to foot the cost.

I may be a dinosaur but I have been around the block a time or two and in my time in the trade I have trained many, many apprentices and employed many good men. But as a small business I will now NEVER employ or train again purely because of the H&S implications, and i certainly aren't the only one.

 

[Englishman]

Only read the first post (atm) but you have a really good point!

A few weeks ago I cut my finger down to the bone with a hacksaw! The 18 year old apprentice said "I'll get the first aid kit from your van". I just laughed and got blue tape from my toolbox. Well..... you have to use blue, the flow of blood has now been neutralized :rofl:

ok...fine...the first aid kit would have been better (I'm a first Aider and should know better lol) but it was a simple and clean cut, bit of tape and carry on regardless. The look on his face was priceless!! Just tape it up and get on with the job ffs.

Wrapping tape round a bad cut is probably the best thing you can do because it compresses the wound and stops it bleeding. Have always done it. Was putting a Bosch speed spade bit through a bit of pic window board last year when it snatched, jumped, and landed square on a finger nail. Gritted teeth, shoved the apprentice out of my way and tightly wrapped it, and the pain was gone within seconds. It's brilliant.