Stupid workplace safety rules

[bunyip]

After reading some posts in a similar vein thought I would share this, we have a corridor at work that is quite dark and has a low wattage light fitting so we can see where we are going, it is also a ramp between levels and has a low (7'6") ceiling.
I got to work one day and the light was blown so I switched it off and replaced the LED globe, I put a note in the communications book stating I had done this and all **** broke loose.
A safety officer came out and addressed all of us and very publicly berated me for breaking the rules as I am not allowed to use a step ladder or stand on a chair without another staff member present, after the public chastising she asked what would have happened if I had fallen off the ladder and broke my leg/arm or whatever or was unconscious on the floor until someone came in some four hours to find me.
She was delighting in this display of public humiliation until I pointed out that unlike her I am not a member of the cast from Snow White and the seven dwarfs, in fact I am 6'4" tall so I simply walked up the passageway, extended my arm and removed the offending globe, might I add I was not even on tip toe and my arm was not even fully extended, at no time did I feel dizzy or fear I was suffering from altitude sickness.
I placed the offending LED globe in my pocket and inserted the new one adding that these globes have a plastic cover as there is no heat generated so there was no fear of shattering glass severing arteries in my wrist and had the power have been on which it wasn't LED globes do not run hot so there was no fear of me burning myself.
At this point I excused myself and went back to some meaningful work and delighted that I could hear some s******ing in the room as I left.
Workplace safety has a place but it can get just plain silly.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

It's a CYA world... Cover yorn asss... ridiculous. Try being a contractor...:confused2:

 

[oosik]

Yes - but remember for a time she had her moment of glory and justified her position within the organization. She also identified herself as being very short sighted.

 

[Wagtail]

OH&S (Workplace safety) has long since changed from a legitimate concern/process of correcting potential injuries to an 'industry'.

I worked one posting in Canberra at Navy Safety. Fortunately the Navy kept their own Safety Manual so that we could keep it practical... Army & RAAF, much to their chagrin, opted to the civilian managed Defence Safety Manual.

One day, Parliament passed OH&S legislation that basically wrapped 'the world' in cotton-wool. (bubble wrap) Over a weekend, Defence Safety quadrupled their (so called) workforce, which led to the Defence Safety Manual being tripled in size and mostly oriented towards civilian employees (Australian Public Servants).

It no longer became a matter of "Safety" but a justification of their employment.

I'm surprised that the Army doesn't go into a combat situation (Afghanistan) wearing fluro vests!

 

[bunyip]

She also identified herself as being very short sighted.

I could have been sitting down although I don't want to give her too much credit.
Wonder if she has safety handles on her soap box?

 

[bunyip]

I'm surprised that the Army doesn't go into a combat situation (Afghanistan) wearing fluro vests!

With blanks and no pointy bayonets either, remember Bob Hawke berating the RAN as they sailed to Kuwait (late 80's?) and the crew dressed up with towels on their heads having a bit of fun.

 

[Industrial Toys]

So why does society put up with this BS!

 

[bunyip]

This sums it up pretty well

 

[3930dave]

Workplace safety has a place but it can get just plain silly.

I wouldn't want to work in most factories circa 1900 (not suggesting you would either ) but you're right, some bureaucats get way too exuberant about justifying their existence.

Better yet, "improved" regulations can actually worsen things. Was talking with a drywaller years back - when he started in the trade, it was common to use stilts, with few accidents. That practice was deemed unsafe in later years. The example he gave was drywalling a basement - new construction - with stilts, they'd clear the entire basement of accumulated construction debris, so they'd have a totally clear area to move around while wearing stilts - worked fine.

Once the stilts were banned, they often didn't clear the basement entirely when using ladders - more trips and falls resulting. The guy I was talking to pointed at himself and said "I'm 280# - thanks to the new "safety" regs, I now have Ladder Foot, from all the hours standing on ladders".

Rgds, D.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Actually, in Ontario Canada, that executioner would probably have been fined and ordered to make the necessary improvements. Maybe, it would even have gone to the human rights commission.

Some groups want to get rid of the wheelchair symbol saying it paints a stereotypical picture. They want something similar, but implying more vitality and motion! I'm guessing many people in a wheelchair would forgo any of that, in favor of receiving just a small fraction of the money government spends and insists be spent on such endeavors.

 

[japody]

Have you seen how much OSHA fines run? 50K to 100K is not uncommon.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Reading this thread, I don't know weather to laugh or cry. I have 20 years in semi-conductor manufacturing, four in aerospace along with various and other occupations including driving truck. We had some 1400 various chemicals, compounds, etc, etc in semi-conductor, many of which would go poof in the night. Lots of opportunity for a "learned" safety officer. That is until "it" hits the fan. Then they tend to make themselves missing in action.

 

[Deere Dude]

That's one of the reasons I retired when I did. Safety shoes, glasses, hard hats, tethers to keep you from falling out of baskets or scissor lifts, oxygen masks, extra people standing around while doing certain jobs. Safety is a concern but sometimes they get carried away with difficult rules to follow..

 

[turnkey4099]

It all goes back to the beginning of OSHA. Soem of their first rules were totally asinine. E.g. Farmers having to provide toilet facitlties for field workers. To fully comply they would have had to tow an outhouse behind the combines.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Probably three! Men, Women and Gender Neutral!

And all handicap accessible.

 

[BigBlue1]

That's one of the reasons I retired when I did. Safety shoes, glasses, hard hats, tethers to keep you from falling out of baskets or scissor lifts, oxygen masks, extra people standing around while doing certain jobs. Safety is a concern but sometimes they get carried away with difficult rules to follow..

It really gets sickening dealing with all the push for eliminating every vector of possible harm. Sure, I'm for being careful, but there has to be a balance of common sense to it. In business, this push is mainly due to litigation, bad publicity and insurance costs. In the public sector (i.e laws/government) it is often pushed by bleeding heart folks who just wail at every tragedy and must never encounter them again. I've said for a while now, the only way to make those folks happy would be to wrap everyone in bubble wrap and strap them to the floor in a locked room when they are born to prevent anything from ever touching them. Then they will have their safe nirvana.

I can't believe I've survived all these years using ladders by myself! What luck I must have!

Rob

 

[poncho62]

I was in the plastics industry for most of my life, on the safety committee for most of it. It can be a real pain in the *** for some, but for others its really needed.....Seems that you couldn't idiot proof some machines for some people, they were so clueless. People think they are invincible and its not going to happen to them.

In one regard, I wish that the rules would have been enforced sooner and more strictly. From working for 40 years around loud machinery, I am mostly deaf now and must wear hearing aids. Only since the 1990s were we tested and made to wear hearing protection....too late for me.

 

[Clint S]

We had a clock at work that needed batteries. Put in the appropriate work orders. A week goes by ands still nothing. I go ahead and change the batteries. The clock is easily in reach without any sort of stool or ladder. Another week rolls by and a guy shows up to change the batteries, with his supervision (as they need two guys for everything for safety). Needless to say I get reamed by his supervision for changing the batteries and then by mine because I or a visitor could of gotten hurt. I also had to fill out 2 forms as to where I disposed of the batteries . We used batteries every day in hand held equipment and we have a bucket where they go to be recycled. Well I guess I don't need to know what time it is that bad.

 

[Wagtail]

You can turn the situation around to work to your advantage if you know the 'rules'.

As I mentioned, I did a Navy posting (3 years) at Navy Safety. This entailed training in the "system" that was in place.

My next posting was located in a "Heritage Listed" dockyard warehouse that the interior was converted into modern offices. The facade had the old wooden drop-down loading platforms at the upper floors cargo entrances. These platforms were weathered and rotting. The ancient 'Victorian' davit & winch system was probably rusted in place with a very infrequent slap of black paint over it. "Nobody" could get it repaired.

So I lodged the appropriate forms and work-orders, couching it it so much OH&S terms and legalises as I knew how. Within a fortnight an assessment of the work required was done and all of the platforms where fixed by replacement. It took them a month to complete (9 platforms in all - to 'heritage specs'), plus the 3 davits were inspected and refurbished.

The 'system' works both ways.

 

[3930dave]

We had a clock at work that needed batteries. Put in the appropriate work orders. A week goes by ands still nothing. I go ahead and change the batteries. The clock is easily in reach without any sort of stool or ladder. Another week rolls by and a guy shows up to change the batteries, with his supervision (as they need two guys for everything for safety). Needless to say I get reamed by his supervision for changing the batteries and then by mine because I or a visitor could of gotten hurt. I also had to fill out 2 forms as to where I disposed of the batteries . We used batteries every day in hand held equipment and we have a bucket where they go to be recycled. Well I guess I don't need to know what time it is that bad.

Many large organizations really just want mindless drone workers, who take no initiative.

For some reason, your post reminded me of working late, years ago, in a secure test facility. Working alone in the back lab, I managed to get a minor cut on one finger that needed a band-aid. I wandered through the entire facility, looking for a first-aid kit.

Finding none, I ended up calling the security guard. When asked where the first-aid kits were, his answer was "We keep those locked up".

I could have said, "What part of FIRST Aid don't you get ?"

Followed by "Let me get this straight:

1) As you can see by my badge, I have Secret level security clearance.

2) I'm trusted to use millions of dollars of equipment. (Back then, $1million was a lot of money).

3) We are in a mag-locked secure facility.

4) If I'd cut my self worse, and bled out while wasting time looking for a non-available first-aid kit, for future reference, who should my family be suing ?

But, I took the high-road and just thanked him for the band-aid from the securely locked cabinet.

Like Scott Adams has said " I really don't have to write much, the real-world stories I get from people keep Dilbert very busy....."

Rgds, D.