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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: sparksy on August 29, 2015, 11:00:30 AM

Title: OH&S gone mad
Post by: sparksy on August 29, 2015, 11:00:30 AM
Hows this for health and safety going too far.
Just been told at work that we can no longer wear thongs on our trip from home  to work. we must be wearing closed in shoes until we get changed into our workgear and boots.
As I work in food industry we also cant wear our boots home as it may create a food risk ( never mind I wear same boots in the waste water plant on site).
Anyone know where I can get steel capped Crocs.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Bad Scott on August 29, 2015, 11:23:48 AM
that's a policy that has been in force for a long time. why don't you were ya thongs driving to work. change shoes in vehicle.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: BaseCamp on August 29, 2015, 11:26:41 AM
Whilst this does sound like part of a: "World Gone Mad" - I can see where the OH&S goons are coming from with this one...

Basically the company's WorkCover premiums are exposed whilst the worker poodles his/her way TO - and FROM work.

IE: Someone fumbles and falls on something - on his trip from home to work - and whilst that can hardly be the fault of his employer - the victim (ie: the employer) gets a WorkCover claim raised against it - none the less... 

Put it another way - you are on your way to work wearing thongs as footware.       You trip over the curb.    Somehow you are badly injured...    You are out of pocket $1,000's in medical bills....   You are off work 10 weeks without any sicky pay; (because you have used that all up previously)...

NOW GIVEN THE CHOICE - of somehow in this wonderful country having the legal right to make a

WorkCover claim to recoup your losses;
OR
Not making any claim (because you wantonly chose to wear thongs on that day) - would you make that claim??

#  Of course you would!

#  Then why should the "mugs"; (aka) the company that employees you; pick up the tab through WorkCover insurance premiums - and the risk of claims...

Hence: "appropriate footware to work is required, thank you!"







Hows this for health and safety going too far.
Just been told at work that we can no longer wear thongs on our trip from home  to work. we must be wearing closed in shoes until we get changed into our workgear and boots.
As I work in food industry we also cant wear our boots home as it may create a food risk ( never mind I wear same boots in the waste water plant on site).
Anyone know where I can get steel capped Crocs.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gronk on August 29, 2015, 11:32:01 AM
Are you covered for workers comp driving to and from work ?

If not, the only bit they can police is the wearing of shoes on their site....bit hard to change while driving though ..

Where I used to work, they hinted at that rule coming in....their reason was thongs were a slip hazard in and around the bathroom !!

Bloke in the coal mining industry lost his dismissal case because he refused to shave off his beard ..

Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: D4D on August 29, 2015, 11:33:13 AM
Are you covered for workers comp driving to and from work ?

I could be wrong but I thought this scenario was removed years ago.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: sparksy on August 29, 2015, 11:42:19 AM
I could be wrong but I thought this scenario was removed years ago.
You are correct. Cover to and from work was removed about 15 years ago. you are not covered by compo until you clock on.
It only was announced on Friday when I was offsite on a Confined space course with the manager and he didn't know anything about the new policy. General consensus when discussed with others on course is that if its a OH&S requirement then the company has to provide appropriate PPE so they will have to supply shoes.
Funny thing is we have offices on site and it doesn't apply to sales staff.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Bird on August 29, 2015, 11:47:18 AM
and they wonder why nobody takes OHS serious apart from the OHS flogs.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: BaseCamp on August 29, 2015, 11:55:16 AM
re: my post above - sorry about that...   I did not know that the to and from work bit was removed 15 years ago....    (I guess that includes Qld)..

du to me     ;D     


 
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: krisandkev on August 29, 2015, 12:14:02 PM
Work Cover Qld web site still says, 'An injury is 'a personal injury arising out of, or in the course of, employment if the employment is a significant contributing factor to the injury.'

Injuries can happen at work, travelling to and from work or while on a break from work. Injuries can also take place if you are travelling for work, or visiting other workplaces or sites for the purposes of your job.'  Last updated24 December 2014


Kevin

Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gronk on August 29, 2015, 12:18:25 PM
I could be wrong but I thought this scenario was removed years ago.

Not in some industries......namely the coal mines !!

But they are not covered by workcover....they have their own coal mines insurance, and one thing they are trying to stop the govt getting their hands on..
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Streetkid on August 29, 2015, 01:28:47 PM
I could be wrong but I thought this scenario was removed years ago.

Two blokes at my work were each cleaned up on thier motorbikes going to and home from work and they both had workers comp claim, one a huge payout so I don't think this is the case.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Garfish on August 29, 2015, 01:35:06 PM
I could be wrong but I thought this scenario was removed years ago.

Still applies n Qld,.  As a journey claim.

We had issues with slips and trips between car park and factory, from people wearing various shoes. Socks and thongs being common, as we were also in Food industry shoes could not leave site, so you would wear other shoes to and from, every break, you had to remove your boots after going through boot wash. And put own shoes on, so thongs very popular otherwise you are changing shoes always.  To address these injuries we had to implement covered shoes to and from. the Hr mgr wasn't happy when I pointed out to her that included her strappy shoes were no longer suitable. ;D

It is hard., but one of our staff broke her arm really bad walking to the car in thongs in the rain and has permanently lost around 15% use mobility in her hand from it.   
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: lino6 on August 29, 2015, 01:35:41 PM
I know in Vic road injuries are covered by TAC and not work cover. Our work cover insurer wants us to register all of our forklifts so that TAC would pay out for an injury instead of them. Who said insurers were dodgy...?
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: edz on August 29, 2015, 02:49:33 PM
Who said insurers were dodgy...?

5 months on and still playing a merry go round of claim / counter claims, Made a bet of a trip to Fraser Island to myself  it will see a year + before I see any settlement of sorts .. >:(
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Dueller on August 29, 2015, 05:22:12 PM
A rehashed version of what's been kicking around my industry for quite some time now......
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gunna on August 29, 2015, 06:08:17 PM
 :cheers:
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Bad Scott on August 29, 2015, 06:28:15 PM
:cheers:
I was hunting for that exact image :cup: :cheers:
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gronk on August 29, 2015, 06:59:20 PM
:cheers:


http://www.myswag.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=44759.0;attach=110940 (http://www.myswag.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=44759.0;attach=110940)

Funny that....30 yrs ago we had an engineer who used to live on site, and used to arrive ( out of hours ) in his thongs...so one xmas we presented him with a pair of steel capped thongs....from memory they were red !!

Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: ATC on August 29, 2015, 07:23:38 PM
Are you covered for workers comp driving to and from work ?

If not, the only bit they can police is the wearing of shoes on their site....bit hard to change while driving though ..

Where I used to work, they hinted at that rule coming in....their reason was thongs were a slip hazard in and around the bathroom !!

Bloke in the coal mining industry lost his dismissal case because he refused to shave off his beard ..

Did he have to wear a respirator?

OH&S is a 3 way process. (gross simplification)

Your employer will provide a safe workplace to protect you.
You will act safely to protect yourself.
You will act safely to protect your colleagues.

YES there are lots of stupid numpties you walk around with clipboards & don't know sh!t about anything, but as employees we also have to do our bit & not act like numpties, or protest everything.
Sometimes a simple question gets a decent answer.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Memem284 on August 29, 2015, 07:47:33 PM
I'm a nurse on a colo rectal ward. I'd hate to think what's on the bottom of my shoes. lol
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gronk on August 29, 2015, 07:53:03 PM
Did he have to wear a respirator?


It was required of him to wear a dust mask if deemed necessary , and I think it was BHP, it was stated in their terms of employment that a dust mask should seal properly and beards were not allowed !
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Robbo on August 29, 2015, 07:53:54 PM
I'm a nurse on a colo rectal ward. I'd hate to think what's on the bottom of my shoes. lol

I'm guessing you would'nt be brave enough to go bare feet.. ;D
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: dales133 on August 29, 2015, 07:54:06 PM
I remember  after having my second round of knee surgery and went to the physio and he picked my thongs up off the floor and cut the toe straps.
Aparantly they cause more ankle and knee injuries  that could have been prevented by either wearing bare feet or shoes than anything else combined.
I still wear them though...
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Moggy on August 29, 2015, 08:04:22 PM
Hows this for health and safety going too far.
Just been told at work that we can no longer wear thongs on our trip from home  to work. we must be wearing closed in shoes until we get changed into our workgear and boots.
As I work in food industry we also cant wear our boots home as it may create a food risk ( never mind I wear same boots in the waste water plant on site).
Anyone know where I can get steel capped Crocs.
What are these things called shoes you speak of ?  Eh?

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Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gronk on August 29, 2015, 08:21:27 PM
I remember  after having my second round of knee surgery and went to the physio and he picked my thongs up off the floor and cut the toe straps.
.

Was he a big bloke....or you haven't got a bad streak in you ???    That's unforgivable !!!   :o    ;D
Title: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Xfigio on August 31, 2015, 09:03:12 PM
Learning to drive in QLD in the early 90s, it was illegal to drive with thongs.  I thought it was dumb, till the day I jumped on the brakes and the sole got stuck between the pedal and floor so couldn't depress the brake all the way.  Never drove with thongs again.

So no, I don't think it's OH&S gone mad at all.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: GeoffA on August 31, 2015, 09:08:40 PM
.....Never drove with thongs again.

Never have, never will.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: dales133 on August 31, 2015, 09:09:37 PM
Learning to drive in QLD in the early 90s, it was illegal to drive with thongs.  I thought it was dumb, till the day I jumped on the brakes and the sole got stuck between the pedal and floor so couldn't depress the brake all the way.  Never drove with thongs again.

So no, I don't think it's OH&S gone mad at all.
Been there done that!
The physio opened my eyes to how dangerous they realy are and since then i only wear slip in kinda sandles with nothing between the toes and as soon as they get warn and slop around on my feet i get a new pair.
That or tevas.
Ok i lie i still ocasionaly get caught wearing "jandles"but his voice rings in my ears when i do
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Brij on September 01, 2015, 08:40:51 PM
At our weekly safety/production meeting with our principal customer yesterday an incident was bought up from the previous week where a forester had his water bottle roll from under his seat as he slowed and under the brake pedal. Depressing the brake pedal caught the water bottle half under the brake and half over the throttle. Pressing harder pressed on the throttle.
End result vehicle ran off road, up embankment and onto it's side.

One of the other contractors said he had a similar thing happen many years ago, except it was a can of Aerostart. Pressing on the brake pedal punctured the can and filled the car with ether. He said somehow he got the ute pulled up and got out real quick. Said it isn't a risk factor any more because no one needs to use Aerostart. A lot more reliable starters and batteries  :cheers:

Peter
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Troopy_03 on September 01, 2015, 09:14:19 PM
At our weekly safety/production meeting with our principal customer yesterday an incident was bought up from the previous week where a forester had his water bottle roll from under his seat as he slowed and under the brake pedal. Depressing the brake pedal caught the water bottle half under the brake and half over the throttle. Pressing harder pressed on the throttle.
End result vehicle ran off road, up embankment and onto it's side.

One of the other contractors said he had a similar thing happen many years ago, except it was a can of Aerostart. Pressing on the brake pedal punctured the can and filled the car with ether. He said somehow he got the ute pulled up and got out real quick. Said it isn't a risk factor any more because no one needs to use Aerostart. A lot more reliable starters and batteries  :cheers:

Peter
I saw a similar incident years ago, where a can of hydraulic oil got stuck under an aircraft tow motor's brake pedal. Luckily it happened when the guy driving, was parking the tow motor in front of the hangar. He hit the hangar wall and pushed a big dent into it, and a table inside the flight line hut that was sitting against the wall got knocked about a meter and a half away. Along with a couple of blokes playing cards there.,
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: FNQBunyip on September 02, 2015, 07:45:44 AM
I once had a 3 day suspension for operating a D10 without my steel caps on..
OH&S grub had to climb up on the stacking conveyor to see my feet in the cab, get a photo and call me out of the pit..
He had it in for me as I challenged him on the boot style , I wore Redwings with a steel cap and he wanted laced boots on site , company didn't provide boots so I wore what I liked , and a few other blokes took up the Redwing style , only way to get me was because I'd slip them off and chuck'em behind the seat.. lol

Cheers

 
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gronk on September 02, 2015, 11:26:37 AM
Wear thongs 90% of the time, but take them off when driving....with size 14 shoes, bare feet are much safer than BIG shoes..

Have driven 4wds at work and size14 gumboots are not what I'd consider safe when trying to use a clutch as well as a brake !
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: BaseCamp on September 02, 2015, 12:47:25 PM
had a large helium cylinder (GX) suddenly start rolling around in the back of the van once whilst driving down MtCootha... and venting its 9.1Mts3

I immediately wound down the window (even before attempting to slowdown and pullover..)

Reason: Helium is an asphyxiate    >:D

no LOL
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gronk on September 02, 2015, 01:21:55 PM
I use my chainsaw with thongs, no ear protection, no eye protection and none of those fancy pants either.......and NO person hanging around to tell me I can't !!  :cup:
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: paceman on September 02, 2015, 01:38:36 PM
and they wonder why nobody takes OHS serious apart from the OHS flogs.

if it means i get home safe to my family every night, then i'm happy to take OHS seriously...

why take the risk? 



Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gronk on September 02, 2015, 04:07:45 PM
if it means i get home safe to my family every night, then i'm happy to take OHS seriously...

why take the risk?

Seems a contradiction after my last post, but most work places enforce OH&S so you DO get home safely every night.  Most don't really care personally about you, but a safe place saves them heaps of money...no lost time injuries, no compo payments and most importantly, no increase in insurance premiums for them ..

Work safe so you stay alive and help the company out at the same time !
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Hewy54 on September 02, 2015, 04:16:48 PM
I use my chainsaw with thongs, no ear protection, no eye protection and none of those fancy pants either.......and NO person hanging around to tell me I can't !!  :cup:
After a few mishaps to toes and eyes, I DO wear protection while using the chainsaw. NO person hanging around, but I do value the quality of my life.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: paceman on September 02, 2015, 04:21:04 PM
Seems a contradiction after my last post, but most work places enforce OH&S so you DO get home safely every night.  Most don't really care personally about you, but a safe place saves them heaps of money...no lost time injuries, no compo payments and most importantly, no increase in insurance premiums for them ..

Work safe so you stay alive and help the company out at the same time !

so, a win-win...

granted, some OHS stuff is a bit over the top, but this prevailing attitude by some that OHS is purely around to annoy employees is a bit over the top...

i've had the misfortune to speak with more than one person who has had a loved one die on the job, and it's not pleasant, regardless of the cause...

by their very nature, accidents can't be prevented (incidents can), but i don't see an issue with everyone doing their best to try...



Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: gronk on September 02, 2015, 05:59:29 PM
After a few mishaps to toes and eyes,

With a chainsaw ??

Toes ( feet ) are the least of my worries with a chainsaw, but I don't know what a broken chain would do ??
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: GUEY on September 02, 2015, 06:30:46 PM
Over the top OH&S is a necessary evil because there are those that believe natural selection is a bad idea.
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: speewa158 on September 02, 2015, 06:54:10 PM
ON YOU Charles Darwin    >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D          :cheers:
Title: Re: OH&S gone mad
Post by: Alfa12 on September 02, 2015, 08:51:33 PM
Never used to wear protective chaps when on the chainsaw until a clutch tooth broke and the chain swung back and hit me in the cods. I somehow had managed to push the saw out far enough that it was a glancing blow. P***ed blood for about two weeks. Always wore the chaps after that. BTW I'm a safety manager with over 20 years experience across a range of industries and it amazes me some of the crap some people try to push as safety.


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