VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions H&S gone mad!!

Do not know if this is a world problem but here in the UK Health & Safety has gone

It seems the 'problem' with these 'safety' issues, 'environmental' issues etc. etc. is the same as 'education' issues etc. etc. and that problem is the fact the pendulum always seems to swing too freaking far.

Too bad the pendulum can't just sorta swing in the 'middle' area. The 'extremes' (right or left; liberal or conservative) always seem so stupid. The middle ground always seems so sane.

Maybe that's what happens when 'the government' gets involved.

Don't know. Too complex for me. All I know is IMHO the pendumlum often seems to swing too far!!!



Bill.

Like OSHA requiring alarms on forklifts that were loud enough that ear protection was required.

......yep.....

I believe it is all the result of our litigious society. Somewhere toxic or flammable vapors accumulated in a mechanics pit and an unfortunate mechanic was overcome. Years ago it would have been “Oh, poor fella, should have known better than to run the exhaust pipe of a running engine into the pit.” Or “That dumb fool got what he deserved. He should have known that drain gasoline into the pit and then dropping the trouble light, causing the bulb to break would ignite the vapor and cook him.”

Now it is: “No matter that you understand that a pit has inherent dangers and you are well aware that accidents can be fatal cause injury but without a hurricane force blower to ventilate and an over designed (and prohibitively expensive) drain system that a pit it is just too hazardous to work in. And if you are allowed to use it anyway someone is likely to sue you for your and all your close relatives (or company and managers or [fill in the blanks]) until you are justly punished for your errant ways. “” We in government are only trying to protect you from your own stupid actions.””

In your case I am sure that jacking, blocking and working on your back also violated some policy or directive. You or your management just might not been aware of it. And since it was not a permanent situation like the pit it likely would not be cited in an inspection unless the inspector directly viewed the situation.

It is indeed a shame that we are governed like we are all the least capable. And each activity is viewed by itself instead of with related activities or alternates. In my mind it all too often creates a more hazardous condition than they were trying to solve. Unfortunately it will only get worse, until the educated masses revolt and throw the idiots out!

Basically, what is happening is that the morons in the government are trying to protect you from yourself! :eek: :eek:

Yeah, JYD...You saw those morons at their best in the Alito hearings.

Bigbob, I am glad I heard that from you, I was starting to think I was the only P.C. oddball around.

Government intrusion into private lives is wrong, whether it's overregulation of a mechanic's pit or allowing people to learn what kind of books you read in the library. Our constitutional fathers knew how dangerous concentrated government power can be, which is why the Bill of Rights were formed. It is a great day when people speak up for their civil rights instead of merely parroting the excuses given by the party they support. I think 42Bill is right on the mark.

My most often said one liner - "Everything in this country goes too far". This is the extreme. But, on the other hand years ago it was the extreme the other way. When I worked in a laminating mill, I was required among other hazardous tasks,to ride with two other guys on the fork lift,even on the forks if I wasn't fast enough to get on behind the driver. I asked the boss if I could walk and he hit the ceiling and told me I would be fired if I walked or ran...One bounce on those forks would have cut off my legs. And, the stories my uncle told about the coal mines back in the first half of the last century convinced me to study in school and later when I worked in that mill I was reminded of those stories.

Folks are often quick to cast disparaging comments around when there are usually two sides to every controversy. I thought it was humerious when after years of fiercely castigating everything to the political left of himself (and that is a lot), when he got himself in trouble who did he turn to for help? None other than the "liberal" bastion of the ACLU. It is easy to make fun of OSHA for requiring back up alarms that are so loud they require hearing protection. Personally I would like to see some proof of that allegation. But without OSHA, even in it's current emasculated form, the workplace would be far more dangerous than it is. If OSHA were allowed to do what it was designed to do perhaps there would be fewer families in West Virginia with cause to grieve today. The easy part is to stand back and criticize. The difficult part is to get involved and try to make a difference.

Tiny- you may want to do a little research, if the party you mention has a name you should use it but I will say the name has an R and an L in it. If so the story is somewhat different than you state, a tour of Newsmax archives would probably help.

Tiny, Recently, I heard about a book, "What's wrong with Kansas". My remark - "there must be a lot right about Kansas". You, and folks like you are definitely what's right about Kansas...

Thanks for the feedback I didn't realize I'd left his name out. It would make more sense when reading it. I was referring to Bill O'Rilley. I must have had a senior moment don't you see.

hi joe,

your story reminded me of my early jobs which included: riding on forks...racing them (when the boss wasn't watching and nearly flipping them, getting them up on two wheels, taking turns too fast)...climbing access ladders that were bolted to the sides of structures that were 40-60' straight up without landings for rest or fall protection, while carrying buckets of tools or materials...all before I was sixteen...amazingly, I ended up in the emergency room only twice...

we definitely need safety regulations, practice, & a safe work environment...but common sense is essential, too...


epi

I'm referring to several news articles I remember hearing on the evening news a few months ago. The newscasters (there were more than one) made a point of a right wing radical going to the ACLU, an organization many consider to be radical left, for help. While it has been several months & my memory may have failed me it seems the person involved was Mr. OReilly. While I almost never listen to the drivel of extremists on either side this obvious case of strange bedfellows stuck in my mind. If my memory served me incorrectly as to the identity of the person involved I apologize to Mr. OReilly.
However that doesn't diminish or alter the point I was trying to make. That being one should be careful in burning bridges and calling names because you never know when the person or entity you castigate may turn out to be your savior and If you make allegations publically, be prepared to defend them.