Health & Safety

[t-mids]

Hi all,

I work for a small manufacturing company and have a tight boss !! The company has recently had their windows bricked in but have chosen the 'cure' method rather than 'prevention' and have now just decided to install CCTV. The boss has got his mate to do this who 'apparently' fits CCTV cameras. The cameras to be installed are in a high reach area that will need an access platform (one of those mechanical lifts). My boss has asked me to assist this guy in testing these cameras.... Do I need training and safety equipment for this ? I imagine there are strict H & S laws regarding these platforms.

[Lil O'lady]

The law concerning health and safety at work is that all persons are equally responsible for their safety and that of others. You can't turn round if an accident happens in the circumstances you describe, and say you thought it was safe, cos it's patently not.
You could try asking your boss to show you how to do this job, or you could develop a really bad back or something that prevents you getting onto any such equipment. It will irritate buildersmate if he looks in on this post, but if you were in a union this would be a clear case fo their involvement.

[buildersmate]

I'll promise not to get irritated Lil.
Lil is right but I'd go a bit further, in that it is up to the employer to ensure a safe system of work as an overriding principle. There are specific HSE rules about working at heights - open the linbk below and printout the leaflet.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf
I think that gives you the info you require to be informed enough to discuss this with your boss. I do not believe you should asked to do this unless your boss has done a proper risk assessment for the specific job.

[weecalf]

A part from the danger ith the camera installing .I would be a little cocerned with this bricking up windows apart rom the safety is there not a lighting problem here to .

[buildersmate]

The man said "bricking in" - not "bricking up"! LOL

[weecalf]

Oops he ment some one had thrown bricks through the window . I read it as he had bricked up te window as they were being smashed .Sorry bout that must read more careful .