HSE inspection and enforcement drops off the chart

[brothermagrew]

A decade ago, the Health and Safety Executive could be expected to turn up at the average UK workplace once every few years. But unpublished official figures obtained by Hazards show workplaces are now lucky to see the pared back watchdog once in a working lifetime. Editor Rory O’Neill warns this means serious criminal safety breaches are going unseen and unchallenged.

Further details: http://www.hazards.org/deadlybusiness/o ... fetime.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ldsposti]

The biggest culprit of all is the C.W.U for standing by and letting it happen, they have no regard for our health & safety at all.

[Ahebban]

You can report any breach of Health and Safety to Area level and above. Failing that, or in addition to, you can contact the Environmental Officer/Department attached to your local Council.

[brothermagrew]

The biggest culprit of all is the C.W.U for standing by and letting it happen, they have no regard for our health & safety at all.

Would you care to expand or elaborate brother!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The biggest culprit of all is the C.W.U for standing by and letting it happen, they have no regard for our health & safety at all.

Bit of a sweeping Generalisation there mate.

In my experience the H&S at my place is pretty good, even the managers are pretty tight on it. Also H&S at HQ is one few departments that I think is working very well.

[andy2007]

In my experience, the CWU has fought hard to protect our H&S. Do you have any examples to the contrary?
Just remember not to include too much detail, in case you give away your identity.

[fishtank]

In my experience, the CWU has fought hard to protect our H&S. Do you have any examples to the contrary?
Just remember not to include too much detail, in case you give away your identity.

Delivery spans and bag weights.Too long and too heavy.
Weight off the shoulder should have happened 10 years ago.
Too many twisted spines and knees with no cartlidge....mine included.

[andy2007]

The delivery spans, I can understand. But I didn't think the bag weights had changed for some time. Or do you mean that they aren't enforcing them properly?

I'm sorry if that sounds like a daft question, but I work in an RDC, so I don't have first hand knowledge of it. We've had ongoing battles over H&S for a few years now, with people being pushed to cut corners, and the H&S Reps trying to get something done about it. They haven't been entirely successful. But it isn't for lack of trying.

[fishtank]

16kg for a first bag is too heavy and was introduced when deliveries were considerably shorter.
It also does not take into consideration height,weight and build.
The bags are poorly designed,poorly manufactured and if worn incorrectly cause muscu-skeletal damage.
And the level of training given regarding wearing the bag is p*ss poor...although that can be more of a local issue.

[BELIAL]

Truth be told BrotherM. the HSE is a paper tiger. Window dressing that just responds to high profile cases to give the impression of a well meaning and carefully regulated workplace culture. True lots of good legislation and safeguards but if you relied on the HSE to police and enforce these on a day to day basis ,you would be bitterly let down. HSE inspectors are shifted on a routine basis from discipline to discipline , you show me anyone who could learn all there is to know about offshore drilling rigs in six months ,then switch to fairground inspections for six months ,then transport, agriculture . Build the perfect set of rules and then make sure they never operate.

[clashcityrocker]

Weight off the shoulder should have happened 10 years ago

.
Unfortunately for those who do flats/tenements the weight is still going to be on the shoulder.
The very least that RM can do is ensure that all staff are made aware of the 5kg weight limit, the consequences of not sticking to it, and then ensure that the walks are structured to be realistically achievable within the delivery span.

[chunk]

Truth be told BrotherM. the HSE is a paper tiger. Window dressing that just responds to high profile cases to give the impression of a well meaning and carefully regulated workplace culture. True lots of good legislation and safeguards but if you relied on the HSE to police and enforce these on a day to day basis ,you would be bitterly let down. HSE inspectors are shifted on a routine basis from discipline to discipline , you show me anyone who could learn all there is to know about offshore drilling rigs in six months ,then switch to fairground inspections for six months ,then transport, agriculture . Build the perfect set of rules and then make sure they never operate.

Im sure its a numbers problem. I have a friend who works in trading standards (a government dept with a similar remit to hse) telling me there is less than one officer per 1000 retail premises so some would likely never get a routine visit.
And that they relied on tip offs from the public to ensure that the most visits they do make counted!
HSE operates in a similar way now good with leaflets but poor on levels of visitation.

[chunk]

Before i start sounding like know anything whats this 5kg limit been mentioned?

[clashcityrocker]

Before i start sounding like know anything whats this 5kg limit been mentioned?

According to the bag weight matrix - posties on walks that are predominantly stairs (flats/tenements) should not be carrying more than 5kg.

[Patrick Clifton]

Before i start sounding like know anything whats this 5kg limit been mentioned?

According to the bag weight matrix - posties on walks that are predominantly stairs (flats/tenements) should not be carrying more than 5kg.

What?!?! First I have heard about this! I shall write this one down and keep it in a very safe place for future use