Safety with Groups

[Davidh]

Its good to swing your tool now and again.

Its a real problem that has to be drummed home time and again.

[BAJR Host]

Currently preparing the first draft... should be only 3 pages long, with a single page check-list to act as a reminder. In many cases. you can tell people 100 times and they will still do it!

BUt prepared is better than nothing

[oldgirl]

Even after going through a tool talk we caught someone swinging a mattock as if it was a golf club. He was showing off to his friends but luckily it was stopped before any injuries

It's not just injuries to others - I've seen someone swing right back and hit themselves in the back. And then on the foot.

I have to say, my usual things with new people on site from a tool handling point of view:

How to use a mattock
How to use a spade
How to use a shovel (and why it's different from a spade)
How to use a wheelbarrow

And with ALL of the above - it's not a macho game of who can do the most. Better to take a half full barrow and empty it more often than try to shift a full one if it's a struggle. Also, better to carry two half full buckets than lug one full one..... And - you may be able to keep that pace up for today, and maybe for tomorrow too. But can you keep it up for a week?

[BAJR Host]

damn right to all the above

[Davidh]

It's not just injuries to others - I've seen someone swing right back and hit themselves in the back. And then on the foot.

Hmm. I find that people that are not used to using these manual tools seem to think that they can master them within minutes. I am involved in a community project and I have said that I want the use of mattocks banned until further notice. That brings up a problem when you have some people who are trained and or competent with them moaning that it isn't their fault that there are people who aren't. (I have to say your scenario brought up an image of Homer Simpson in the garden)

you may be able to keep that pace up for today, and maybe for tomorrow too. But can you keep it up for a week

Fitness is also an issue especially when fatigue kicks in.

[BAJR Host]

actually a good point about stamina.. and fatigue. I have seen people (well to be honest... men) push themselves because they did not want to admit they were fatigued... result being they hurt themselves and become a danger to others.

[Davidh]

How is this coming along David?

I have a meeting tonight on what we are going to ask of the contractor on the next excavation in May. I realise that its incorrect that we should be proposing how things should be done but it has to be executed properly this time around.

Next time the excavation is in woodland.

Now your going to tell me that you have chucked something up on the website and I've missed it while I've been away aren't you?

[BAJR Host]

Still working on it... ! }

So much to do.. so little time

Its hard to try and distil it into 2 pages I can tell you!

The checklist is supposed to be a thought provoking aid - and not a prosciptive you shall/shall not.

[Davidh]

Yes of course.

Which makes me wonder if something should be produced for the community groups as to what they should expect.

[BAJR Host]

Have completed the draft... passing it to maggie for rough check.. then will go out to be looked at...

so you can comment. phew! I need pushes every so often