We've all heard the old gem that some people use as an excuse for not wearing a harness: "I dont like wearing them because if I fall and dangle in the harness for more than 20 minutes it will kill me"
Is this based in fact in any way at all?
I've have read on some websites that Suspension Trauma is caused when the harness restricts blood flow and causes blood to *pool* in your legs - but it seems to me that you would have to be wearing a bloody uncomfortable harness for that to happen?
I've *dangled* a few times on my harness... just testing it out for a laugh... and apart from a pinch around the family jewels never noticed any discomfort at all...
Anyone got any categorical proof either way on this one?
Dog they do say that after 20 mins it can cause problems but certainly not death, but the way around people useing the old chesnut excuse is to set an emergecy procedure of rescue in case anybody does fall, this plan should lay out "what action of rescue" there is to be taken in the event of a fall. There are harnesses out there like the Miller Duraflex harness that are not totally rigid but are slightly elasticated so as not to cut into you so harshly. If serious problems did occur " like death" i cant see that the HSE would allow this type of fall arrest equipment to be used. After all there are no excuses for not wearing your harness. Forget all this "EGO" i'm a scaffolder shit, you are issued with one so you need to wear it. It does also show the professional companies from the also rands out there, if you look professional then people think you are professional which leads to more business & a better image for Blueridge Scaffolding.
When i did my course we were told you pass out after 20 mns and COULD die after 45 mins. I hate wearing them. Think i would be more likely to fall if i was wearing one.
All a company has to do to satisfy the HSE is provide the harness, a company can't force anyone to clip on, it is the individuals choice. The recommendations from the HSE also state that you do not require to clip on anything under 4 metres, but as long as your employees have been issued a harness it is up to them whether they "clip on " or not, but do make sure that a supervisor or above carries out monthly harness inspections & logs all results
i see that you say it is the individuals choice to clip on or not but if you check sg04-05 it states you should be clipped on until you are working of 3 boards and behind a single handrail
absolutely right Paul - I've seen a massive improvement in HSE Working Styles over the last couple of years. The days of slinging up scaffolding, single handrails, rusty tube are long gone. I go red thinking about some of the dodgy scaffolds I worked on in the early days... :shock:
Anyways... Back to the modern age of safe construction sites - We work a red card system for HSE breaches like this... If a scaffolder is caught working at height without clipping on he is given a first warning. If he is caught again then it's an immediate red-card = being sent home = docked a days wages.
It's all about finding the right balance between working safely and working efficently.
Dog, good system the old red card one, personally i don't see what the problem is with wearing a harness, i agree that they can be a pain in the arse but you do get used to it after a while. At the end of the day the face of scaffolding is evolving all the time & the HSE seem determined to wipe out the companies that do not adhere to there recommendations as to change the way that the industry is seen. They now say we are a PROFESSIONAL acredited industry & rightly so, as PROFESSIONAL scaffolders we should all make the effort to improve our industry, as when the HSE start fineing scaffs & companies alike small companies will close & jobs will be lost. There is no excuse now as we have all been on the courses, so we all know the regulations we must work under. The days of the old hands are quickly coming to an end, so we must either change or get out of the industry, because the HSE are only going to add more recommendations, personally i can see them enforcing that every lift must be fully boarded & double handrailled in time.
if we are to be classed as professionals now(even though we have been for years!) when are the wages going to rise like other trades? you see top carpenters,electricians,plumbers etc earning
I totally agree with you, but we all know that scaff bosses are re-nowned for under cutting each other just to get the work, or when it is quiet they go in cheap to get the work, down here in Weston-super-mare i am working with an advanced ticket & he is getting
Hi Paulc, howz it hanging, if your looking 4 pro-money get ur self offshore, dont be pissin-about with
:? P.S. Amendment " afore mentioned post 2 Paulc... Mmmmm that should have read
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