Roof access harness

[netblindpaul]

The employer has provided the PPE but he wants to supply his own more comfortable kit, what's wrong with that?

Because it is the statute law duty of the employer to provide suitable PPE, if it is not sufficiently comfortable then it is not suitable.
Also if he provides his own PPE and it fails, and he dies, do you really think that his employer is going to pay out to his family?
He was not using the PPE that the employer deemed suitable, he did not raise an issue of any kind with his employer he just used his own, which was not under the control of his employer, nor deemed suitable, thus he is on his own, and now his family will get a reduced pay out because, he spend his OWN money buying kit that his employer has a statute law duty to provide and which must be suitable and sufficient, and comfort is part and parcel of that requirement.

Now I don't know the OP from Adam, but, I would argue to the ends of the earth to protect him in his job, and if things go badly wrong, I would entrust that any advice I had given, even on some random internet forum, would protect the OP & his family AFARP, and ensure that they would get the best outcome.

Please consider your responses and understand the laws and the ramifications.

 

[Rockingit]

http://m.petzl.com/en/Professional/Harnesses#

 

[Rockingit]

And I know a shed load about harnesses, which was the OP!!!!! FFS Paul, can you never just be normal??!

 

[netblindpaul]

I am not TBH aware of the status of the harnesses linked to in the various posts in this thread, however one needs to be aware that leisure climbing harnesses do not need to meet the PPE directive, where as work harnesses do.
So, any harness used in a working environment must meet the PPE directive for it to be suitable for work, that is NOT an option is is essential.
Some may, some may not, I have not checked the links and I am not going to, make your own minds up, but, the PPE Directive is law.
If your PPE does not meet this and you provide it then, you will not be adequately protected if you get hurt, and your employer is breaking the law by allowing you to use it.
If your PPE does not meet this and your employer provides it then they are breaking the law.

It is pretty simple really if you read and understand the statute law surrounding this, which some of us have to for our jobs.

 

[netblindpaul]

And I know a shed load about harnesses, which was the OP!!!!! FFS Paul, can you never just be normal??!

Yes I can rock & I am, why should any employee have to be put at risk in any way means shape or form, or have to spend their own money to protect themselves so that their employer can make a profit at their expense?

Now if anyone out there really believes that employers should still in this day and age be risking their employees lives & health for profit and nothing else, then I'm sorry I can't align with those values even as an employer and never will.
Health and safety must come above profit, if you believe otherwise then good luck to you, but I will never believe that.

Surely there is no-one in this day and age that will put their employees health and lives below that of making profit for the company? Seriously?

 

[Rockingit]

Yes I can rock & I am, why should any employee have to be put at risk in any way means shape or form, or have to spend their own money to protect themselves so that their employer can make a profit at their expense?

Now if anyone out there really believes that employers should still in this day and age be risking their employees lives & health for profit and nothing else, then I'm sorry I can't align with those values even as an employer and never will.
Health and safety must come above profit, if you believe otherwise then good luck to you, but I will never believe that.

Surely there is no-one in this day and age that will put their employees health and lives below that of making profit for the company? Seriously?

I can't fault THAT post.....maybe it should have been your first?!

I completely agree that an employer has all of the responsibilities above, and more, but just as many soldiers in the forces buy their own boots for comfort, so would I choose to with a harness. I cringe when I see guys working at height with harnesses that look like they're made from cheesewire, my Navaho (they now seem to have rebranded them, see the link) is designed for pro riggers (such as me) and is capable as a positioning/abseil device not just fall arrest use (of whatever flavour). I even went to lunch in a cafe wearing mine on Monday (not deliberately, btw).

 

[davesparks]

Surely there is no-one in this day and age that will put their employees health and lives below that of making profit for the company? Seriously?

You need to get out more! There are many many employers who put profit above health and safety.

Generally they have all the risk assessments and method statements filled in and filed away somewhere gathering dust and they spend the bare minimum possible on the most basic training they can get away with to tick the box.

An example from my experience is the theatre world. Manual handling training consists of the basic how to lift small regular objects course. When I asked if they were going to teach is how to move large irregular objects the answer was 'no, your employer didn't pay for that part of the course only the basic level'
Considering 99% of the stuff we have to shift is big and irregular it's pretty useless.

 

[netblindpaul]

As far as I can see my previous posts have been in total alignment with that post.

I have been for breakfast/lunch in a cafe in a fall restraint harness before now and it does not bother me.

Mine is in accordance with the PPE directive, provided by my employer and I know how to wear it.

The issue is though rock, if you buy your harness, then you are liable if it is inadequate, plus you have spent money on it that you could have used to pay your mortgage or feed your kids, (if you are employed), why should you do that. In fact why should our soldiers who are protecting us HAVE to do that also, they should not, they should have sufficiently comfortable boots provided the fact that the do not is a disgrace on the whole country who these people are putting their lives on the line to protect.

rock, if you are self-employed / 1 man ltd. co. then the harness is your call, if you are not then it is your employers call, and, if it is not adequately comfortable to be worn for the required time scale it is required for then it is not fit for purpose and thus does not meet the PPE regs, thus your employer is in breach of their statute law duty.

 

[D Skelton]

Interesting thread and good contribution from all. I have nothing to add to it. I do however want to pick you up on one comment of yours Paul;

In fact why should our soldiers who are protecting us HAVE to do that also, they should not, they should have sufficiently comfortable boots provided

Try telling that to the RSM

Hahaha

"Stop complaining and buy yer own ya ****in' nancy boy!"

 

[netblindpaul]

Interesting thread and good contribution from all. I have nothing to add to it. I do however want to pick you up on one comment of yours Paul;



Try telling that to the RSM

Hahaha

"Stop complaining and buy yer own ya ****in' nancy boy!"

I realise that Damien, but it is still unfair IMHO that these guys have to do this, and spend their money to ensure that they are battle fit, to protect us.

 

[D Skelton]

I realise that Damien, but it is still unfair IMHO that these guys have to do this, and spend their money to ensure that they are battle fit, to protect us.

Aye it's disgusting, I agree, but it aint gonna change any time soon. Our soldiers have always been under equipped and will continue to be so for hundreds of years to come.

With regard to the rest of the thread, put it this way, the safety of my staff is paramount. It's not about the money for me, it's about the fact that I could never forgive myself if someone working for me, whether employed or subcontracted, hurt or killed themself and there was something I could have done to prevent it.

If they don't find their provided PPE comfortable, I'll reimburse them for buying their own (within reason).

On the flip side, I've booted subbies off site many a time for slacking on the PPE side of things. If I tell you to wear goggles when grinding and you don't, you go home, simple as. My site induction forms make it very clear that not abiding by site rules means a swift kick out the door!