Anyone see that Channel 4 documentary last Thursday about the French guy with a death wish?
A married father of three, Alain Robert's terrifying brand of "free climbing" - climbing without tools or safety devices of any kind - has taken him up some of the most daunting buildings in the world. He performs his dangerous work despite suffering from epilepsy.
His often illegal antics and his ability to scale just about any kind of building quickly earned him the nickname 'the human spider'.
His terrifying brand of "free climbing" - climbing without tools or safety devices of any kind - has taken him up some of the most daunting buildings in the world, including the Sears Tower, Canary Wharf and the Eiffel Tower. Robert has been arrested countless times and admitted defeat only once – in Paris after the weather conditions made it too hot for him to continue, leading to him having to be rescued. Robert has only ever had two accidents, both during training when harnessed.
What a nutter.
Monday, 7 April 2008
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Definitely NOT an April fool
Pinch, punch, first day of the month...and it's April Fools Day to boot. But one statistic that quite clearly is not a joke is the recent IIRSM poll. A huge 44 per cent of IIRSM members who voted in last month's opinion poll do not think the new Corporate Manslaughter Act, due to come into force next week, will improve safety. What do you think? Let us know in our discussion forums at www.healthandsafetyprofessional.co.uk
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Doesn't it frustrate you?
Sorry I've not posted for over a week, folks - I've been busy having fun. Yep - Easter weekend provided me with lots of fun things to do, so I was too busy to post. But fear not - I'm back now, back in the world of health and safety. And what a world it is.
I received an interesting email from my boss this morning (while I was sniffling on my hanky in bed, I hasten to add) asking if I was interested in a story. The story in question was regarding the House of Lords' decision on work-related suicides.
Now I am well aware it's not a nice subject, but let's face it - health and safety is full of workplace deaths, falls from height, crushes by machinery - we are all immune to it now. Or are we?
It's your job to ensure such things do not happen, and I am sure you are very good at doing so. Obviously the likes of such websites as www.healthandsafetyprofessional.co.uk helps you do your job more efficiently (nice plug, thanks) but doesn't it frustrate you to constantly read about companies that don't adhere to policies, the very policies we are all striving to embrace and promote? Tell me!
I received an interesting email from my boss this morning (while I was sniffling on my hanky in bed, I hasten to add) asking if I was interested in a story. The story in question was regarding the House of Lords' decision on work-related suicides.
Now I am well aware it's not a nice subject, but let's face it - health and safety is full of workplace deaths, falls from height, crushes by machinery - we are all immune to it now. Or are we?
It's your job to ensure such things do not happen, and I am sure you are very good at doing so. Obviously the likes of such websites as www.healthandsafetyprofessional.co.uk helps you do your job more efficiently (nice plug, thanks) but doesn't it frustrate you to constantly read about companies that don't adhere to policies, the very policies we are all striving to embrace and promote? Tell me!
Monday, 17 March 2008
Dame Carol Black's 'occupational health service'
I spent this morning at the launch of the health review by Dame Carol Black, entitled Review of the health of Britain's working age population: working for a healthier tomorrow.
From where I was sitting, there doesn't seem to much to get excited about, although the research is interesting and proposals sensible, it will probably take the Government a good few years to sit on thos recommendations before actually doing anything about them.
Therefore, it's up to you health and safety professionals to continue doing what you're best at, keeping your workers healthy and safe.
From where I was sitting, there doesn't seem to much to get excited about, although the research is interesting and proposals sensible, it will probably take the Government a good few years to sit on thos recommendations before actually doing anything about them.
Therefore, it's up to you health and safety professionals to continue doing what you're best at, keeping your workers healthy and safe.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
How not to work on a roof!
IIRSM member Roger Rustom kindly sent me these images of workers on a roof adjacent to his offices.
Roger, sitting in his Safety Department offices, couldn't just watch these men blatantly risk their lives and do nothing. So he contacted the HSE, who told them that they could and should not do anything and that they would write to the people concerned.
Will a letter (by the time it gets to them) really make a difference to men who so blatantly put their lives at risk and employers who are obviously condoning their actions?
Roger also has the whole incident on film and will be using it to educate his employees and contractors.
If you would like to send me photos of safety blunders, email me.
Roger, sitting in his Safety Department offices, couldn't just watch these men blatantly risk their lives and do nothing. So he contacted the HSE, who told them that they could and should not do anything and that they would write to the people concerned.
Will a letter (by the time it gets to them) really make a difference to men who so blatantly put their lives at risk and employers who are obviously condoning their actions?
Roger also has the whole incident on film and will be using it to educate his employees and contractors.
If you would like to send me photos of safety blunders, email me.
Monday, 10 March 2008
Online forum
Last week we held our first roundtable teleconference. Selected IIRSM members were invited to call in and discuss various topics high on the health and safety agenda in order to generate some good old fashioned debate - and they didn't disappoint.
Topics covered included CDM - how have the revised Regs bedded down? and what impact the new Corporate Manslaughter Act may have on industry. Recent stories in the press provided food for thought, and the profile of our industry certainly generated a welcome discussion. To read the forum threads in full, click here.
A write-up of the forum is also included in the April edition of the IIRSM Newsletter.
For details of our next teleconference, email me. All HSW subscribers and IIRSM members are welcome.
Topics covered included CDM - how have the revised Regs bedded down? and what impact the new Corporate Manslaughter Act may have on industry. Recent stories in the press provided food for thought, and the profile of our industry certainly generated a welcome discussion. To read the forum threads in full, click here.
A write-up of the forum is also included in the April edition of the IIRSM Newsletter.
For details of our next teleconference, email me. All HSW subscribers and IIRSM members are welcome.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Old arguments ... new debate?
The recent death of 12-year-old Hayden Waller has reminded of a debate that occured among IIRSM members during 2007. Hayden's pal slipped while trekking on a school trip in southern Austria, and Hayden attempted to help him, falling to his death.
Hayden, a 12-year-old school boy, died trying to save another child.
Rewind to the death of Jordon Lyon, who drowned in May 2007 in a pond after trying to save his step-sister when they got into diffulties. Another child who died trying to save someone else. The subsequent inquest into the 10-year-old's death prompted calls to scrap Police Community Support Officers, as it revealed that they "just stood by and watched".
So, if a small child is willing to risk his life to help another human being in distress, why didn't the PCSOs? Lack of training? Or should they not be required to risk their lives, as thousands of regular police officers do every day?
Far be it for me to drag up old arguments, but I thought it worth mentioning.
Return to HealthandSafetyProfessional.co.uk
Hayden, a 12-year-old school boy, died trying to save another child.
Rewind to the death of Jordon Lyon, who drowned in May 2007 in a pond after trying to save his step-sister when they got into diffulties. Another child who died trying to save someone else. The subsequent inquest into the 10-year-old's death prompted calls to scrap Police Community Support Officers, as it revealed that they "just stood by and watched".
So, if a small child is willing to risk his life to help another human being in distress, why didn't the PCSOs? Lack of training? Or should they not be required to risk their lives, as thousands of regular police officers do every day?
Far be it for me to drag up old arguments, but I thought it worth mentioning.
Return to HealthandSafetyProfessional.co.uk
Monday, 18 February 2008
Long hours = stress
This Friday (22 February) is Work Your Proper Hours Day. The aim of the day is to get the average person who does unpaid overtime to just do their normal hours on this day and reflect on how well (or badly) they are balancing their life.
Scarily, nearly five million people in the UK regularly do unpaid overtime, giving their employers an average £4,955 of free work a year. But it's not just about the money. As a health and safety professional you are undoubtedly aware that long hours are not good for us!
Long working hours are bad for work-life balance, health, productivity and safety. In the UK we have reached epidemic levels. And overwork is definitely making us sick - a DTI survey found one in five men (19 per cent) had visited the doctor because of stress, rising to one quarter (23 per cent) of over 40s.
I for one will certainly be taking advantage of the promotion to work my proper hours in the hope I will enter the weekend far less stressed than I usually do ... I hope you do too!
Do you think campaigns such as Work Your Proper Hours Day help to alleviate stress in the workplace, therefore making it safer and healthier? Why not start the debate in our discussion forum?
Scarily, nearly five million people in the UK regularly do unpaid overtime, giving their employers an average £4,955 of free work a year. But it's not just about the money. As a health and safety professional you are undoubtedly aware that long hours are not good for us!
Long working hours are bad for work-life balance, health, productivity and safety. In the UK we have reached epidemic levels. And overwork is definitely making us sick - a DTI survey found one in five men (19 per cent) had visited the doctor because of stress, rising to one quarter (23 per cent) of over 40s.
I for one will certainly be taking advantage of the promotion to work my proper hours in the hope I will enter the weekend far less stressed than I usually do ... I hope you do too!
Do you think campaigns such as Work Your Proper Hours Day help to alleviate stress in the workplace, therefore making it safer and healthier? Why not start the debate in our discussion forum?
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
An alarming trend
The Samaritans released a survey recently, which revealed that one in four people have suffered workplace bullying: an incredibly worrying statistic.
Young employees (18-24 years) are most vulnerable to stress, with 38 per cent feeling less likely than all other age groups to talk openly to their managers and 57per cent unable to talk to colleagues. Forty-eight per cent are more likely to be bullied by clients and customers whereas over half of other age groups reported being bullied by their managers.
Managing workplace bullying is an increasing challenge for employers. It is a serious health and safety issue that every employee and every company should be aware of.
A good anti-bullying policy and some company-wide workshops are invaluable to ensure that everyone understands and gets the message.
How do you manage workplace bullying? Click here to tell us.
Young employees (18-24 years) are most vulnerable to stress, with 38 per cent feeling less likely than all other age groups to talk openly to their managers and 57per cent unable to talk to colleagues. Forty-eight per cent are more likely to be bullied by clients and customers whereas over half of other age groups reported being bullied by their managers.
Managing workplace bullying is an increasing challenge for employers. It is a serious health and safety issue that every employee and every company should be aware of.
A good anti-bullying policy and some company-wide workshops are invaluable to ensure that everyone understands and gets the message.
How do you manage workplace bullying? Click here to tell us.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
The bigger picture
Last month I wrote an article for the IIRSM Newsletter on the recruitment policies of the Armed Forces.
The story came in response to a recently published report, which assessed whether potential soldiers are provided with an accurate and full description of a forces career, including the risks, found that a misleading picture is created.
One member wrote to me asking that we remember the bigger picture. "The Army, just like any other organisation, has to recruit and you cannot expect it to achieve this by stating too many negatives," he said.
Does this negative publicity simply feed the appetites of those who do not really appreciate or understand? Share your views in our discussion forums.
The story came in response to a recently published report, which assessed whether potential soldiers are provided with an accurate and full description of a forces career, including the risks, found that a misleading picture is created.
One member wrote to me asking that we remember the bigger picture. "The Army, just like any other organisation, has to recruit and you cannot expect it to achieve this by stating too many negatives," he said.
Does this negative publicity simply feed the appetites of those who do not really appreciate or understand? Share your views in our discussion forums.
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