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.