- Thread starter gav0994
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The big problem is we are all volunteers. No paid employees at all. The good thing is the group Secretary is a recently retired business man thats ran his own engineering companies so he is fairly knowledgeable on the paperwork needed (made known to me today), he just doesn't visit the site very often and as such I've been tasked to do a list of problems and draw up ways of rectifying them and then do some risk assessments on the most common tasks we do within the workshop and machine shop areas.
Hopefully once I've had a chat with Parm on the phone I'll be in a good position to move forward to assist the group Secretary and get us up to date with modern H&S requirements.
Wallace
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Parm
Respect The Sound System
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Please tell the story.........
posted on another thread here, but the idiots broke my locking wheel nut key.
The long tyre lever looked very appealing and it wouldn't have been a H&S I would have been convicted of
difficult one, but in my experience, whether for volunteers or staff, education is the key. Winchman has a point, the organisation has overall responsibility, the volunteers still have to follow the rules, same as any employee. However depending on their background they may not be familiar with HSE rules /site type conditions in that particular area, so it's your responsibility to identify the risks and put in place mitigation etc, but also educate and guide them so they understand and comply.
That said if they can't / won't / don't get it, then they would definitely be better to suggest, diplomatically, that their services could be better employed elsewhere on the project, perhaps away from any risk. The point is that being responsible for their actions, we are also responsible for training, educating etc as well as protecting them from themselves by identification / removal of any hazards etc. Ultimately, from my perspective, if after all hazards have been identified, mitigated, and personnel trained accordingly etc, I would have no qualms in removing someone from a site, if they're still a danger to themselves, or others, due to lack of comprehension or ability to comply, irrespective of them being a volunteer, especially if it's my "asset" as the responsible person.
That said if they can't / won't / don't get it, then they would definitely be better to suggest, diplomatically, that their services could be better employed elsewhere on the project, perhaps away from any risk. The point is that being responsible for their actions, we are also responsible for training, educating etc as well as protecting them from themselves by identification / removal of any hazards etc. Ultimately, from my perspective, if after all hazards have been identified, mitigated, and personnel trained accordingly etc, I would have no qualms in removing someone from a site, if they're still a danger to themselves, or others, due to lack of comprehension or ability to comply, irrespective of them being a volunteer, especially if it's my "asset" as the responsible person.
I'm not sure how an industrial heritage railway would differ from the one in this incident but it makes sober reading about structure and attitudes within a volunteer railway environment:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...677917/180130_R022018_South_Devon_Railway.pdf
There are plenty more of these types of reports on the RAIB gov site and some guidance for heritage railways on the ORR site which is worth understanding should you need some guidance.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...677917/180130_R022018_South_Devon_Railway.pdf
There are plenty more of these types of reports on the RAIB gov site and some guidance for heritage railways on the ORR site which is worth understanding should you need some guidance.
ajlelectronics
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And with the greatest respect, this is how Great British innovation and engineering has gradually gone down the pan and many businesses have ridiculous obstructions put in the way of getting anything done.
On top of that we see the draconion penalties for minor indiscrescretions given out, which the H&S team then crow about in the media. I used to report some of the idiots I often saw walking along the apex of a two storey house etc, especting them to get a word in their ear and possibly some training, but never will again. If someone wants to take a risk, I will let them get on with it now, rather than let a nanny send them to prison with great glee at another notch on the walking stick of a destroyed livelihood and criminal record.
People have always risked harm for the sake of invention and efficiency and I agree that there is a line to be drawn somewhere. However, that line seems to be drawn to suit nannies who have rarely done a real hands on job and reflect their personal terror of something onto personnel trying to make a living and in this case preserve something wonderful for future generations to appreciate life before nanny.
slim_boy_fat
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A pal in the building trade once sent the Company CEO off his site for failing to have the appropriate PPE stuff, hi-viz etc. 
I have read the report on this. As someone who works in the "real railway" and heavily involved in ASLEF (the train driver's union) I see lots of "near miss" reports by the RAIB.
This incident you refer to, was a very serious failing by the engineering side of the heritsge railway and also their fleet manager by allowing the vehicle in question into traffic.
I dont intent to end up as the Health and Safety official in our group. I have merely been asked to create a list of issues present within the workshop and engineering areas that really need resolved sooner rather than later. The group Secretary is dealing with the policy side of things, but doesn't get to the site much due to other commitments.
Once I have identified all the problems, I plan to write some risk assessments and method of work statements for the most common tasks carried out. I have some experience of doing these from my time in the military.
puffernutter
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If you are still looking for help PM me. I have run my own miniature railway and prepared the RA for it as well as another local miniature railway. It's also part of my day job.
Peter
Peter
puffernutter
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CIRAS is not as good as it used to be. They have branched out to covering other modes of transport, which in my view has reduced their effectiveness. I have submitted problems with our traincrew bothy and it got dealt with - didnt appear in the newsletter bit they got it all resolved.
Parm
Respect The Sound System
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Aye, its a good Scottish word!
Parm
Respect The Sound System
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That’s where I learnt it
