3rd January 2007, 02:27 PM
My company (an RAO, but not principally an archaeological organisation) has a very strong commitment to health and safety (no particular moral virtue in that - it has very strong commercial motivations for that commitment).
When we monitor archaeological fieldwork, one of the things we look at carefully is the health and safety practice of the archaeological contractor.
One thing is clear - archaeological contracors have a very poor reputation for H&S amongst civil engineering contractors, and to some extent they deserve it. The standard of practice is not high. However, over recent years I have seen it improving. The standard described by Mysteryman is truly bad, but it is not typical.
Having said that, I gather the unit concerned is university-based. My experience (both in and out of archaeology) is that universities are bad, exploitative and uncaring employers.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
When we monitor archaeological fieldwork, one of the things we look at carefully is the health and safety practice of the archaeological contractor.
One thing is clear - archaeological contracors have a very poor reputation for H&S amongst civil engineering contractors, and to some extent they deserve it. The standard of practice is not high. However, over recent years I have seen it improving. The standard described by Mysteryman is truly bad, but it is not typical.
Having said that, I gather the unit concerned is university-based. My experience (both in and out of archaeology) is that universities are bad, exploitative and uncaring employers.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished