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?

 

[vxwestie]

So you don't ever take a good look at your working environment, to see if there are any threats to your safety?

absolutely. That's how I stay safe. Perhaps I just fortunate enough to have the common sense to see those threats without the need to fill out paperwork and tick boxes to do so.

 

[Midwest]

Of course you're will be complying with the Construction Design & Management Regulations 2015 though!

 

[YoungScud]

absolutely. That's how I stay safe. Perhaps I just fortunate enough to have the common sense to see those threats without the need to fill out paperwork and tick boxes to do so.

Then you're performing a risk assessment.