nohope
ArboristSite Lurker
Lots of stuff to get back on.
1. Yellow Fox, I don't think that the cap fits.
2. Big A you're right should things go wrong the proverbial should not just land on you. The job is part of the building contractors undertaking, they have a responsibility to ensure that it is done safely. Ask to speak to the planning supervisor, they are the person who under the Consutruction, (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM) who is in charge of putting together the site safety plan, appointing a competent principal contractor and then making sure that they appoint competent contractors. Most importantly try to get things in writing, put down your concerns, write your favoured method date it and then give it to them (with witnesses) try to get them to sign for receiving it (maybe post by registered post). I do realise that this will mark you out as a trouble maker, but may scare them into spending the money to do the job right in the first place. And if all else fails shop them to the local HSE office quoting suspected breaches of Work At Height regs and possibly CDM.
3. Acer, My first question would be 'Can you cut the stakes to a better length before you put them in the ground using a rear handled saw?' When you no doubt give me sensible reasons why that isn't possible I would have to serve a Prohibition Notice prohibiting the use of the 020T on the ground. There are some things that HSE centrally has a fixed policy on and this is one, as such I would have to stick to that policy. I would also give you an appeal form telling you that if you think I am wrong then you can appeal to a tribunal where the evidence would be heard and a ruling made. It is the only way to actually challenge and test such a national policy line.
4. Mijolnir HSE does know how many RTA's there are, which is why it has produced information and guidance for employers on management of work related car use. HSE still maintains though that in the majority of cases the police have the more appropriate experience to investigate and The Road Traffic Act is the most appropriate legistation, though they may and can consult us on management systems and issues.
5. Highpoint construction does get inspected, more than you do. Every HSE office has a team of inspectors who only do construction. (Mind you that still doesn't amount to much, in my office we have 6 construction inspectors for the whole of West and North Yorkshire). Interventions by construction inspectors with the large principal contractors are the reason that now on big jobs contractors are asked for proof of competance (ie CSCS or NPTC cards). Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.
6. Stumpy66 We can't insist on tickets to buy rear handle chainsaws as the law we enforce is health and safety AT WORK and there are a lot of domestic users out there. Purchasers are supposed to provide a ticket before they can buy top handled saws as this is counted as a proffesional use only saw. THe law Does say that only people with suitable training can work on or in a tree with a chainsaw. One way of proving this is to have your NPTC ticket. As an inspector that is what I and my colleagues work to, if someone is not competant they shouldn't be doing the job. THe only way to catch up with more of those that are not competant is to have more inspectors and tell them to focus on arb work (inspector numbers and what we concentrate on are policy decisions made by the politicians and the Health and Safety Commision).
I think that will do for now, I'll now wait for more flack.
1. Yellow Fox, I don't think that the cap fits.
2. Big A you're right should things go wrong the proverbial should not just land on you. The job is part of the building contractors undertaking, they have a responsibility to ensure that it is done safely. Ask to speak to the planning supervisor, they are the person who under the Consutruction, (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM) who is in charge of putting together the site safety plan, appointing a competent principal contractor and then making sure that they appoint competent contractors. Most importantly try to get things in writing, put down your concerns, write your favoured method date it and then give it to them (with witnesses) try to get them to sign for receiving it (maybe post by registered post). I do realise that this will mark you out as a trouble maker, but may scare them into spending the money to do the job right in the first place. And if all else fails shop them to the local HSE office quoting suspected breaches of Work At Height regs and possibly CDM.
3. Acer, My first question would be 'Can you cut the stakes to a better length before you put them in the ground using a rear handled saw?' When you no doubt give me sensible reasons why that isn't possible I would have to serve a Prohibition Notice prohibiting the use of the 020T on the ground. There are some things that HSE centrally has a fixed policy on and this is one, as such I would have to stick to that policy. I would also give you an appeal form telling you that if you think I am wrong then you can appeal to a tribunal where the evidence would be heard and a ruling made. It is the only way to actually challenge and test such a national policy line.
4. Mijolnir HSE does know how many RTA's there are, which is why it has produced information and guidance for employers on management of work related car use. HSE still maintains though that in the majority of cases the police have the more appropriate experience to investigate and The Road Traffic Act is the most appropriate legistation, though they may and can consult us on management systems and issues.
5. Highpoint construction does get inspected, more than you do. Every HSE office has a team of inspectors who only do construction. (Mind you that still doesn't amount to much, in my office we have 6 construction inspectors for the whole of West and North Yorkshire). Interventions by construction inspectors with the large principal contractors are the reason that now on big jobs contractors are asked for proof of competance (ie CSCS or NPTC cards). Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.
6. Stumpy66 We can't insist on tickets to buy rear handle chainsaws as the law we enforce is health and safety AT WORK and there are a lot of domestic users out there. Purchasers are supposed to provide a ticket before they can buy top handled saws as this is counted as a proffesional use only saw. THe law Does say that only people with suitable training can work on or in a tree with a chainsaw. One way of proving this is to have your NPTC ticket. As an inspector that is what I and my colleagues work to, if someone is not competant they shouldn't be doing the job. THe only way to catch up with more of those that are not competant is to have more inspectors and tell them to focus on arb work (inspector numbers and what we concentrate on are policy decisions made by the politicians and the Health and Safety Commision).
I think that will do for now, I'll now wait for more flack.
