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.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Worn steelies most of my life, even in school.
Wear eye protection virtually all the time, as I ride a motorcycle.
Never understood why we have to wear Hi Viz on sites where there is no traffic.
Got told that it was in case of fire.
The fire fighters would be able to find us easier in smoke filled premises as the Hi Vis would reflect their torches.
So why don't office workers have to wear Hi Vis?
I'm used to wearing head gear, again worn it most of my life.
Though it does crack me up when I get told it's the law.
What I really don't like is the fact that I have to fork out for PASMA and IPAF, but no one pays me extra for having them.

 

[7029 dave]

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?

Know what you mean, but times have changed. We all know you can't do what we done 35 ,20 odd years ago. IMO some things are way over the top, always wore toe techters its all about covering one's harris today.

 

[Andy78]

I don't think it's anything to do with your age. I have worked under plenty guys who will be in their late 60s/early 70s now who always drummed into me the virtues of ear defenders, gloves, goggles, knife safety, safe isolation, never using ladders unfooted etc.
Mind you, the same guys showed me some working practices never to be repeated on an open forum too.

 

[Andy78]

Know what you mean, but times have changed. We all know you can't do what we done 35 ,20 odd years ago. IMO some things are way over the top, always wore toe techters its all about covering one's harris today.

You have a steel protector for that too !?

 

[Pete999]

I can remember when working on Spec build (house 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:

 

[NDG Elecs]

Completely does my head in when you see a reporter on the news wearing a hard hat, and they are quite often in an empty field, with absolutely bugger all chance of anything remotely bad or dangerous happening to them.

Cue the Monty Python piano.

But saying that I did feel I should have had a dust mask on earlier today when I was scrambling about in a loft.

 

[LankyWill]

I can see it from your point of view age wise, but as a 22 year old i want my body to last me till the later years.
Steelies- Always, crushed toes aren't going to earn you money
Hard hat- Always when surrounded by idiots in scissor lifts
Eyes and Ears- when i use power tools as I'm def as it is, especially when commissioning alarms(WHHHHHAAATTT!!!!!.
Gloves- when drilling or wrenching as my hands are weak!!!

All of the above protects you from yourself and the other idiots mulling about...

 

[vxwestie]

I can remember when working on Spec build (house 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:

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...

 

[vxwestie]

I can see it from your point of view age wise, but as a 22 year old i want my body to last me till the later years.
Steelies- Always, crushed toes aren't going to earn you money
Hard hat- Always when surrounded by idiots in scissor lifts
Eyes and Ears- when i use power tools as I'm def as it is, especially when commissioning alarms(WHHHHHAAATTT!!!!!.
Gloves- when drilling or wrenching as my hands are weak!!!

All of the above protects you from yourself and the other idiots mulling about...

That proves your point Pete! Mollycoddled and soft... Pmsl

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Safe as houses.

 

[vxwestie]

I will confess to buying some disposable masks and wearing them whilst taking out a huge asbestos heating unit the other day... I must be getting soft...

 

[vxwestie]

Back in my day (god I am old) we were taught to check an inspect a wooden ladder to make sure it's safe, no assumptions were to made until you checked it for yourself... Then you used common sense on how to use it safety. It's a trait I still apply today.

Perhaps we are being soft as to who is suitable for the building industry and common sense is no longer a requirement

 

[Geordie Spark]

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

NO ........ It's better to use common sense and not cut yourself in the first place!! :nono:

 

[Pete999]

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...

We used to make tool totes out of flooring, as well as totes for screw clips etc, 15mm copper pipe for handle, dirty old carpenters Gladstone bag for the tools we didn't need that day, B&Q Screwfix never heard of them in those days, none of yer posh tool bags costing more now than we got in a week.
Joists covered in snow mud up to yer eye balls drilling joists with a hand driven wheel brace, or an Auger, battery drills huh we should be so lucky, men where men in them days, hard as nails, no toilets, some of the more rougher types used to do number twos under the floor, unwanted sarnies chucked down the nearest cavity, got to stop now I'm filling up.

:grouphug::rant::50:

 

[Geordie Spark]

We used to make tool totes out of flooring, as well as totes for screw clips etc, 15mm copper pipe for handle, dirty old carpenters Gladstone bag for the tools we didn't need that day, B&Q Screwfix never heard of them in those days, none of yer posh tool bags costing more now than we got in a week.
Joists covered in snow mud up to yer eye balls drilling joists with a hand driven wheel brace, or an Auger, battery drills huh we should be so lucky, men where men in them days, hard as nails, no toilets, some of the more rougher types used to do number twos under the floor, unwanted sarnies chucked down the nearest cavity, got to stop now I'm filling up.

:grouphug::rant::50:

In the Geordieland shipyards they used to do them in any welders' gauntlet that was lying around on the job.

Then cackle with glee when its owner put it on ....

 

[LankyWill]

That proves your point Pete! Mollycoddled and soft... Pmsl

I think the quote brain over braun springs to mind in your case. When you loose an eye or cant here the burglar downstairs, i will be the one laughing...

 

[vxwestie]

I think the quote brain over braun springs to mind in your case. When you loose an eye or cant here the burglar downstairs, i will be the one laughing...

I drink beer, smoke cigarettes, race fast cars, shoot guns and chase dodgy women, dying or harming myself on a building site is the least of my worries!

 

[Dave OCD]

I think the quote brain over braun springs to mind in your case. When you loose an eye or cant here the burglar downstairs, i will be the one laughing...

Shouldn't it be brawn over brain Will ?

 

[LankyWill]

Shouldn't it be brawn over brain Will ?

Barsteward!!!!! I have a Braun Razor

 

[ruston]

Barsteward!!!!! I have a Braun Razor

Be careful with it mind.:shocked3:

 

[andyb]

Does anyone else still have the skill to use a shape Stanley knife?
Does anyone else use bits of cardboard and insulation tape to stop the flow of the red stuff?

Maybe you're not as skilled with a Stanley as you think.

 

[Blademan_98]

I wear steelies every day since I lost the end off my big toe when I was 18
I'm 50 now and work in an office but I still wear them!
I also find I wear glasses when grinding...... because I am as blind as a bat without them lol

 

[vxwestie]

Maybe you're not as skilled with a Stanley as you think.

ha, very good.... To be honest I can't remember the last time I slashed myself with a Stanley (I have an obsession with using new blades) .... It's usually the rusty nails under floorboards or blunt screwdrivers I impale myself on!

 

[ruston]

I wear steelies every day since I lost the end off my big toe when I was 18
I'm 50 now and work in an office but I still wear them!
I also find I wear glasses when grinding...... because I am as blind as a bat without them lol

My cousin slipped cutting the grass with a Flymo at home . His foot went under the cutter and took the end off his big toe.
You just never know when it is going to happen.

 

[Geordie Spark]

ha, very good.... To be honest I can't remember the last time I slashed myself with a Stanley (I have an obsession with using new blades) .... It's usually the rusty nails under floorboards or blunt screwdrivers I impale myself on!

Yes, I think you're more likely to get hurt using a blunt blade than a nice sharp new one - well I know I am.

 

[shanky887614]

I don't think it's anything to do with your age. I have worked under plenty guys who will be in their late 60s/early 70s now who always drummed into me the virtues of ear defenders, gloves, goggles, knife safety, safe isolation, never using ladders unfooted etc.
Mind you, the same guys showed me some working practices never to be repeated on an open forum too.

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

 

[shanky887614]

Back in my day (god I am old) we were taught to check an inspect a wooden ladder to make sure it's safe, no assumptions were to made until you checked it for yourself... Then you used common sense on how to use it safety. It's a trait I still apply today.

Perhaps we are being soft as to who is suitable for the building industry and common sense is no longer a requirement

that was more to do with woodrot, ive watched a gardener when a wooden set fell apart when they were at the top :devilish: funiest thing id seen all week

 

[davesparks]

I have never ever ever climbed up a triple extension ladder at full extension held up vertical in free air by 4 heavy blokes hanging on to the bottom of it.

 

[ruston]

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

Most old plant operators , farm machinery operators etc learned this way, once they had the gist of at least one machine.

 

[Andy78]

[/COLOR]

Most old plant operators , farm machinery operators etc learned this way, once they had the gist of at least one machine.

If you got eaten by the baler on the first day you clearly weren't cut out for the job, that sort of thing ?