how strict are you and your employers on PPE

[Adam W]

If left to my own devices I usually wear steel toecaps depending on the environment, I wear gloves especially when metal-munching, ear plugs when doing anything noisy, and safety glasses when stuff is likely to be flying around. Every so often I get woken up by a sharp pain in the eye from an injury a couple of years ago which reminds me of the need to wear glasses when doing anything with the slight possibility of anything springing back and hitting me in the eye.

I like to think I'm fairly safety-conscious, so I resent these H&S jobsworths who insist on hi-viz, gloves, glasses and hard hat all the time, even if you're working in a room with a finished ceiling and the door closed.

 

[jaypp]

A fair few good opinions expressed already in this thread. Most of us will have encountered a situation (minor or major - no Trev, not musically!!) where you think, or someone is more than happy to pipe up with, 'if I/you had a hard hat on etc.!!', but you'll never know what might have happened had you done differently. Basically your, and others around you, safety is your responsibility and common sense and 'consideration' usually suffices. It's all good wearing a dust mask where appropriate, but what about the person working nearby-did you warn him/her? Just the other day someone set up cutting MDF in a room I was in and, although he had a mask on, never said a word about it to anyone. I asked on a site recently if any asbestos might be present (and yes, I know it's my responsibility to check register!) only to be told (by main contractor), 'no, none, not even in the artex ceiling etc.'. I took his word for it, not putting 2 n 2 together when he asked for a RA and mentioned I should be wearing a dust mask anyway (apparently a dust mask -any- negates risk). Turned out a 'minimal risk' amount was found and in site reports. I won't say what I think about that 'colleague'.

So, don't trust anyone, just like when someone says 'it's dead'. It's your responsibility now more than ever. I heard that if PPE enforcement isn't carried out on big sites, insurers don't/won't cover.

 

[shanky887614]

A fair few good opinions expressed already in this thread. Most of us will have encountered a situation (minor or major - no Trev, not musically!!) where you think, or someone is more than happy to pipe up with, 'if I/you had a hard hat on etc.!!', but you'll never know what might have happened had you done differently. Basically your, and others around you, safety is your responsibility and common sense and 'consideration' usually suffices. It's all good wearing a dust mask where appropriate, but what about the person working nearby-did you warn him/her? Just the other day someone set up cutting MDF in a room I was in and, although he had a mask on, never said a word about it to anyone. I asked on a site recently if any asbestos might be present (and yes, I know it's my responsibility to check register!) only to be told (by main contractor), 'no, none, not even in the artex ceiling etc.'. I took his word for it, not putting 2 n 2 together when he asked for a RA and mentioned I should be wearing a dust mask anyway (apparently a dust mask -any- negates risk). Turned out a 'minimal risk' amount was found and in site reports. I won't say what I think about that 'colleague'.

So, don't trust anyone, just like when someone says 'it's dead'. It's your responsibility now more than ever. I heard that if PPE enforcement isn't carried out on big sites, insurers don't/won't cover.

here is a good of advice for new sparks.

if a guy says cut it and they have checked. USE there snips or ask for theres lol

then they can cry when you blow holes in there snips

 

[edexlab]

here is a good of advice for new sparks.

if a guy says cut it and they have checked. USE there snips or ask for theres lol

then they can cry when you blow holes in there snips

Better yet check it properly yourself!!!

As someone said earlier safety is down to you no one else
I always check it myself I don't give a monkeys if several others say its dead! I'd rather have them call me ---- than take their word for it.
This probably explains why I rarely get a poke unlike a lot of sparks I've been around

 

[edexlab]

I agree with the common sense use of ppe but a blanket order to use it the majority of the time is daft, its supposed to be so we comply with EU rules rather than litigious reasons but it seems we're the only ones that follow it

 

[jaypp]

Better yet check it properly yourself!!!

As someone said earlier safety is down to you no one else
I always check it myself I don't give a monkeys if several others say its dead! I'd rather have them call me ---- than take their word for it.
This probably explains why I rarely get a poke unlike a lot of sparks I've been around

every belt I had(except 1 maybe) or hole I've blown in tools was down to me. Might not be what I said at the time!!!!!

 

[edexlab]

I think the whole concept has gone away from education of the risks and actions to reduce them and encouraging people to think for themselves ie use common sense

Instead some bureaucrats have assumed we're all brainless because we are "manual workers" (I know some are lol )and are basically wrapping everyone in ppe which as already mentioned won't stop accidents happening and occasionally adds to the problem
ie the use of hard hats designed to protect from a falling 16oz hammer isn't going to help if a roof falls in and can make people complacent
so the last resort "ppe" is being used as the first method of prevention

Also I think this goes against evolutions most basic foundation of survival of the fittest and allows the stupid ones to thrive to the point we're going to be outnumbered!

 

[Besoeker]

As someone said earlier safety is down to you no one else

We all have a duty of safety to anyone who might be affected by our actions.