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?

 

[Spoon]

Isn't using super glue for cuts better than cardboard & insulation tape?

 

[vxwestie]

I did try superglue the other day actually, Christ knows what sort it was but it began to smoke and burn as soon as I applied it....
Gripfill and CT1 takes ages to set...

 

[Pete999]

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?

No you aint the only survivor mate

 

[davesparks]

I try to strike a balance, sometimes you have to toe the line, other times you can use common sense.

Yes I do wear gloves for some things, but it's because I have arthritis in my hands and it helps relieve it and I'm tired of spending hours scrubbing my hands after some jobs.

 

[leo79]

When I'm on my own jobs I just apply common sense, when I'm on site then I follow the rules. It drives me mad, we've had to enrol for SSIP's and to me it's just unnecessary paperwork but without it, no contract.

 

[Sintra]

I tend to use the common sense approach rather than wearing full ppe for the hell of it. Yes I'll wear eye protection if I'm cutting or grinding, a hard hat if it's raining, high viz vest if there's moving plant nearby, gloves if it's cold but I do always wear my steelies.

 

[Spoon]

I wear steel toe capped boots and I work in an office. They are comfy.

 

[hightower]

Your post implies that H&S is nothing but a waste of time and effort. You're still here mate, but so's my grandad who is 80 years old and smokes 80 a day. Just because you're okay doesn't mean it works or is proof.

Yep, fair enough about climbing on chairs and such, because most people will quickly analyse the safety issues ie the chair might move if it swivels or has wheels. But not wearing goggles when cutting is a dangerous game I reckon - it's not down to skill, just shear luck whether something is going to hit your eyes.

As others have said, it's a case of toeing the line sometimes and applying common sense at others. But to express outright that "it's never done me any harm" is exactly the same statement as "my six numbers haven't come up..... yet"

 

[Midwest]

No accounting for common sence of some folks. My story , yonks ago. HS rep visited factory site. Found guys painting conveyor system, 50' up without safety harnesses. 'I'll be back tommorow, make sure your wearing them'. He did and they were, using them to dangle from the conveyors to paint the underside, ta very much.