18th July 2005, 12:22 AM
Quote:quote:WHY DO YOU PUT UP WITH ALL THIS SH*T?
Well, for me the answer is complex, but at least a part of it the fear of becoming blacklisted. I'm not too worried about being sacked these days, but I'm sure as **** not goin' to get any more decent projects if I blow the whistle on H&S issues. Never ending watching brief duty is the likely result.
For most of the nightmare projects mentioned in my last post contamination was the main issue, not the comedy debate about Hi-Vi's and hats when machines aren't near. (Even cowboy Units provide that stuff to pretend they care about H&S)
When I expressed serious concern about contaminants I was either fobbed off and told that the study had been done, but that there were no contaminants to worry about, or I was shown a useless study designed for builders who were not going to go near the soil, let alone stew themselves in it for a few weeks. Without knowing 100% that I'm at risk when the grown ups say I'm not, it's a huge gamble to dig my heels in and refuse to work. Almost every site I do, or have done with past employers, I could make a stand on some H&S issue, but I've got to pick my battles. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen what I think is asbestos only to be told "There is NO ASBESTOS ON THIS SITE!" I have stopped work in a dangerous situation on a site which I was running, and would do so again, but I got a load of passive agressive punishment from my employer for doing so.
I fully agree that H&S is everyones responsibility, but most archaeologists are forced to be pragmatic about it. The debate is not ignore H&S issues and DIE! or blow the whistle and be sacked! There are many shades of grey between, and I for one struggle with the balancing act. Once again digging archaeologists who bear the brunt of ineffectual monitoring, inadequate H&S provision, inadequate knowledge, inadequate protective legislation are being asked to carry the can. Bollocks!