25th March 2011, 02:07 PM
Depends on the employer.
On a recent pipeline job we had four run-ins with farmers and health and safety.
1) Some diggers got sprayed by a sub-contracted farm worker. He claimed he didn't see them, even though the pipeline spread was visible for miles away and the diggers were wearing hi-vis and we'd been working there for ages and the farmer who sub-contracted them knew we were there.
The sprayer backed right up to and over the spoil heap then turned on his sprayers before starting driving.
The chemical wasn't poisonous but was an irritant. Diggers were rushed to hospital to be checked out and were ok, but had to go home and change.
The construction client did eventually do something to stop this happening again, but it took ages largely due to the farmers being obstinate and unhelpful.
2) Later several vehicles started spraying huge clouds of dust over another field we were working on. The dust clouds were driven on the wind over several fields. When asked what they were spraying, a farm-worker replied (rather shortly) its ok, its not a chemical - its burnt chicken shit.
!
3) Later working areas and our cabins were splattered with manure as muck-spreaders drove right up to the edge of the working area.
Soon after this, the farmers further down the pipeline were more concencious and stopped spraying enough distance from the pipeline spread as to limit the risk.
The point is the construction client did do something and did (eventually) reduce the risk. But I feel sorry for the poor farm workers working with these risks with no protection at all. You just need to look at the HSE guidelines for farmers site to get an idea of the problem. Many farmers seem to think that health and safety of their workers isn't important.
'Whats wrong wiv yer? It wont do yer any harm. I've been workin wiv this stuff all my life.'
Phrases like 'farmers lung' and stats on farmers deaths tell another story.
Oh.....but to get to the asbestos.......in one field the farmer dumped building rubble over a couple of our sites one night.....the rubble contained asbestos tile. When confronted, the farmer admitted doing it saying its my land I can do what I want to it.'
The construction client arranged for the removal of the rubble from the pipeline spread with proper PPE and procedures, piling it up outside of our working area, and the farmer eventually sent some trucks and a digger to take it away (I dread to think where to though!).
Again...good client.........bad farmer.:face-stir:
Glad I don't work on a farm!
On a recent pipeline job we had four run-ins with farmers and health and safety.
1) Some diggers got sprayed by a sub-contracted farm worker. He claimed he didn't see them, even though the pipeline spread was visible for miles away and the diggers were wearing hi-vis and we'd been working there for ages and the farmer who sub-contracted them knew we were there.
The sprayer backed right up to and over the spoil heap then turned on his sprayers before starting driving.
The chemical wasn't poisonous but was an irritant. Diggers were rushed to hospital to be checked out and were ok, but had to go home and change.
The construction client did eventually do something to stop this happening again, but it took ages largely due to the farmers being obstinate and unhelpful.
2) Later several vehicles started spraying huge clouds of dust over another field we were working on. The dust clouds were driven on the wind over several fields. When asked what they were spraying, a farm-worker replied (rather shortly) its ok, its not a chemical - its burnt chicken shit.
!3) Later working areas and our cabins were splattered with manure as muck-spreaders drove right up to the edge of the working area.
Soon after this, the farmers further down the pipeline were more concencious and stopped spraying enough distance from the pipeline spread as to limit the risk.
The point is the construction client did do something and did (eventually) reduce the risk. But I feel sorry for the poor farm workers working with these risks with no protection at all. You just need to look at the HSE guidelines for farmers site to get an idea of the problem. Many farmers seem to think that health and safety of their workers isn't important.
'Whats wrong wiv yer? It wont do yer any harm. I've been workin wiv this stuff all my life.'
Phrases like 'farmers lung' and stats on farmers deaths tell another story.
Oh.....but to get to the asbestos.......in one field the farmer dumped building rubble over a couple of our sites one night.....the rubble contained asbestos tile. When confronted, the farmer admitted doing it saying its my land I can do what I want to it.'
The construction client arranged for the removal of the rubble from the pipeline spread with proper PPE and procedures, piling it up outside of our working area, and the farmer eventually sent some trucks and a digger to take it away (I dread to think where to though!).
Again...good client.........bad farmer.:face-stir:
Glad I don't work on a farm!