The unacceptable face of health and safety
We have all, over the years, read tales of unacceptable “risk management” from cowards using the recommendations of the Health and Safety Executive. And gradually, the nonsense of “Elfin Safety” has migrated from the shield of the coward into the ranks of the managerial culture that now rules Britain. And like most cultural norms, they have now become inviolate. Much like free speech is no longer any such thing thanks to professional offence takers, now health and safety takes precedence over human decency, courage and common sense:
An injured woman lay for six hours at the foot of a disused mine shaft because safety rules banned firefighters from rescuing her, an inquiry heard yesterday. As Alison Hume was brought to the surface by mountain rescuers she died of a heart attack.
A senior fire officer at the scene admitted that crews could only listen to her cries for help, after she fell down the 60ft shaft, because regulations said their lifting equipment could not be used on the public. A memo had been circulated in Strathclyde Fire and Rescue stations months previously stating that it was for use by firefighters only.
Ah, the delights of a memo from head office. I’m sure that the manager or managerialist who pompously issued that decree was smugly pleased as he issued this decree, as he was about to save the fire service from being sued needlessly. I wonder whether he still feels so smug, knowing that his action has left a woman dead?
Not only did he prevent the firemen from bringing her up, but he also prevented a paramedic from going down to treat her. For six hours, she lay in the dark, while pettifogging bureaucracy kept a team of trained professionals from saving her. Still, it’s probably all for the best.
Can’t risk anyone getting hurt, now can we?
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1
March 3, 2010 at 14:51 -
It is not so much as people getting hurt but more the “ambulance chasing” blaim game lawyers and the threat of litigation. Health and Safety “AT WORK” (where most of these cases occur) is a two way street and the individual is as responsible (common sense / joined up thinking) for their H&S as is the “firm”
Perhaps even worse is that the real problem is the potential legal costs involved in defending the spuriouos claim that may finally be thrown out but which in the interim may cost more than the final claim could ever have done
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2
March 3, 2010 at 14:59 -
Are these firemen (sorry firefighters) and paramedics not responsible adults with minds of their own?
Why didnt they just tell the box-tickers to go f*** themselves and save the woman anyway?
Never mind the chairwarmer, I wonder if any of those there on the day feel any shame at being involved in this?
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3
March 3, 2010 at 15:21 -
I’m with JohnRS on this. Either the rescue workers to give them their politically correct non offensive, non racist, non sexist title are just as much to blame as the fuckwit who issued the edict and the greedy Law Society members whose behaviour led to the the fuckwit issuing their decree and the sane but cowed rescue workers allowing this poor lady to die.
Until people stand up for themselves and use the common sense they were born with and take responsibility for their own actions people will carry on dying needlessly like this.
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4
March 3, 2010 at 16:07 -
As I’m not a firefighter, or a paramedic, I prefer not to criticise those whose jobs are infinitely more dangerous than mine – it also means that I won’t feel like a hypocrite, if I’m ever unfortunate enough to need their services.
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5
March 3, 2010 at 16:10 -
If I had made a mistake of that callous a magnitude I would have been sacked.
Private industry the “Pubic sectors” cash cow.
I deliberately mis spelt public.
Have that one for free.
Problem is these public servants are unsackable ,and don’t they just know it.
I hope the pratt who set the edict and the fireman and paramedics who failed to do their duty are named .
But they won,t be of course.
Drones dont carry human names.
Not when they have human rights. -
6
March 3, 2010 at 16:17 -
A few years back now, l was driving down a country lane and l saw this child about 10 years old very distraught by the side of a ditch. l stopped and rushed over and there in the ditch in fairly fast running water was another child of about the same age. He was holding on to god knows what and virtually up to his neck in water. He couldn’t climb out because the bank was quite steep and slippery even though it was only about a 4-5ft slope.
l went over the edge, holding onto a thick branch, and lowered myself in. The water was just over my knees. The kid then used me to climb up. He was no worse for wear … just cold and wet and a bit frightened. l then wrapped him up in my coat and took him and his mate home to his parents.
l dread to think of what l’d be accused of nowadays! Still, l’d do the same again regardless.
When the full details of this sorry affair by the rescue services comes out, those guilty of cowardice (yes, l do mean cowardice) should be named and shamed. As for the asshole that issued this H&S directive, he should be thrown down the very same mineshaft!
Fuck Health and Safety! … it was supposed to be for the construction industry …. not implemented into every facet of our lives! l hate these bastards!
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7
March 3, 2010 at 17:48 -
I heard this story on the news yesterday with a growing mixture of incredulity and horror. The thought that a 44 year old woman could die in great distress under the noses of those who were meant to save her must surely represent another low for the so called ‘emergency services’. Although, having said that, they now seem to routinely allow children to drown without another thought – save for Health and Safety.
I hope the fact that no one there had the balls to set aside this ridiculous ruling and do their duty as a human being let alone as a ‘professional’
haunts these firemen until the end of their career.
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service would be well advised to buy some longer fire tenders – so the words ‘Fire and Rescue – providing no Health and Safety Guidelines are breached and no member of the service or bystanders are put at risk’ – can be added. -
8
March 4, 2010 at 00:53 -
Thank the late, great recently stiff Michael Foot for the genesis of this nonsense, for it was he who introduced the elf n safety at work legislation.
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9
March 4, 2010 at 03:18 -
“As I’m not a firefighter, or a paramedic, I prefer not to criticise those whose jobs are infinitely more dangerous than mine”
No criticsm of Vimes intended.
But why do we hold these people in such high esteem? Seriously?
I know they have their individual heroic moments but the same could be said of many ordinary people, in many ordinary walks of life. No one forces these people to undertake these jobs. I’m not unfeeling but I’ve never understood this notion where the Police, Fire Ambulance and Nurses (but seemingly never Doctors) are spoken about as if they’ve each fought in the trenches of Flanders.
Again, I don’t mean to be harsh but I think we’d get a better service from these people if we stopped elevating them upon some mythical pedestal for heroes.
In all these services we now often hear an unending stream of nonsense – of fools led by idiots. As in much of the public service these days (an antiquated term now surely) they’ve become a caste apart from the people they are meant to serve. Its time we started telling them the service we expect of them and enough of the form filling, the can’t/won’t do attitude and the “Oh but they are national treasures blah blah” excuses. Argggh!
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10
March 4, 2010 at 14:46 -
Seems when firemen do use their own initative and save a life that very same Fire Service Authority try to discipline him.
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11
March 4, 2010 at 18:04 -
An indication of how H&S can make people think in totally wacky ways (taken from the Daily WTF website):
Colleagues,
While on travel last week a member of our staff got up at 3AM to go to the
bathroom. He tripped over a chair and fell into a coffee table, hitting
his head. He suffered a significant head injury and blood loss. He was
taken by ambulance to a local hospital emergency room. He had surgery at
the hospital at his travel site last Thursday. He came home Friday.
Sutures were removed Monday and he is due back to work tomorrow. He is
doing well and in fine spirits.He and we have done a root cause analysis and make the following
recommendation to travelers: before retiring for the night review the
path to the bathroom in new hotel rooms and move any tripping hazards, if
possible. Further, consider leaving a light on in the bathroom with the
door slightly open or packing a portable night light in travel gear to use
in your hotel room.Evin L——-
Safety Directory
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