A.T.V (Aerials and Television) est. 1994
419 Langsett Rd
Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
Tel : 0114 285 4254
© 2008 Justin Smith A.T.V
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Health & Safety Bollocks (Henceforth known as "H & S Bx")
This is a story about "H & S Bx" and ultimately it really is quite sad, in fact it almost brings a tear to my eye.......
I can remember when I was about twelve back in the mid 70s going with the school to the National Railway Museum at York. The NRM is fabulous and it was a great day out but in the afternoon there was an undoubted highlight that actually had quite an effect on the rest of my life. At that time there was a British Railways yard just at the side of the museum
and a group of us were sitting watching an engine being worked there. After a short while
the driver noticed us sat there and he descended from the cab, walked over to us and asked us if we wanted to go on the footplate ! Naturally we all jumped at the chance and followed him up into the loco. It was fantastic as he showed us what everything did and how to start the engine, but it got even better when he asked us if we wanted to drive it ! Alright it was only 50 yards or so but it was a wonderful experience for a group of lads, though I`m sure it
would be a wonderful experience for most "grown ups" as well !
This incident helped to fire my enthusiasm for all things to do with railways and it had a similar effect on at least one of the other group of us. So why do memories of it make me feel a bit sad ? Well it could never happen these days, and so that`s one more experience that the kids of today will never have. I`m sure if it did occur the railwayman concerned
would be sacked on the spot because it`d be considered a serious breech of "Health & Safety". At first sight it may seem to be, but if you think about it that`s bollocks, in fact
it`s "H & S Bx". You`d almost certainly be in more danger crossing the bleedin` road, and yet that is perfectly legal !
On the other hand the "Train Operating Companies" (how romantic that sounds.......) would probably consider it to be a waste of the drivers time, and therefore their money. That`s
crap as well. I`ll tell you something, that railwayman knew more about public relations than all these students tumbling out of university with their "Marketing Science" degrees put together. I don`t even want to think how much I`ve spent on train travel etc over the years (most of which I probably wouldn`t have) had that BR driver taken time out for a group of school kids.
That`s it. Remember every "H & S Bx" ruling has a cost somewhere along the line, even if it`s "only" to deny people fabulous experiences that can change their lives...... Still, at least the kids of today have got their "Play Stations", though I`m sure there`s not one of them (well, the normal ones anyway.....) who would rather play a bleedin` computer game than actually drive a train !
Actually, blaming Health and Safety (as in the Health and Safety Executive) is probably misguided. It`s the bleedin` compensation culture, those parasite lawyers and people out
to get something for nothing. Don`t the latter realise what 4” fence posts are really about !
Oh yes, and companies (and councils) using “Health and Safety” as an excuse to save money by withdrawing services........
This is a story about "H & S Bx" and ultimately it really is quite sad, in fact it almost brings a tear to my eye.......
I can remember when I was about twelve back in the mid 70s going with the school to the National Railway Museum at York. The NRM is fabulous and it was a great day out but in the afternoon there was an undoubted highlight that actually had quite an effect on the rest of my life. At that time there was a British Railways yard just at the side of the museum
and a group of us were sitting watching an engine being worked there. After a short while
the driver noticed us sat there and he descended from the cab, walked over to us and asked us if we wanted to go on the footplate ! Naturally we all jumped at the chance and followed him up into the loco. It was fantastic as he showed us what everything did and how to start the engine, but it got even better when he asked us if we wanted to drive it ! Alright it was only 50 yards or so but it was a wonderful experience for a group of lads, though I`m sure it
would be a wonderful experience for most "grown ups" as well !
This incident helped to fire my enthusiasm for all things to do with railways and it had a similar effect on at least one of the other group of us. So why do memories of it make me feel a bit sad ? Well it could never happen these days, and so that`s one more experience that the kids of today will never have. I`m sure if it did occur the railwayman concerned
would be sacked on the spot because it`d be considered a serious breech of "Health & Safety". At first sight it may seem to be, but if you think about it that`s bollocks, in fact
it`s "H & S Bx". You`d almost certainly be in more danger crossing the bleedin` road, and yet that is perfectly legal !
On the other hand the "Train Operating Companies" (how romantic that sounds.......) would probably consider it to be a waste of the drivers time, and therefore their money. That`s
crap as well. I`ll tell you something, that railwayman knew more about public relations than all these students tumbling out of university with their "Marketing Science" degrees put together. I don`t even want to think how much I`ve spent on train travel etc over the years (most of which I probably wouldn`t have) had that BR driver taken time out for a group of school kids.
That`s it. Remember every "H & S Bx" ruling has a cost somewhere along the line, even if it`s "only" to deny people fabulous experiences that can change their lives...... Still, at least the kids of today have got their "Play Stations", though I`m sure there`s not one of them (well, the normal ones anyway.....) who would rather play a bleedin` computer game than actually drive a train !
Actually, blaming Health and Safety (as in the Health and Safety Executive) is probably misguided. It`s the bleedin` compensation culture, those parasite lawyers and people out
to get something for nothing. Don`t the latter realise what 4” fence posts are really about !
Oh yes, and companies (and councils) using “Health and Safety” as an excuse to save money by withdrawing services........