By: Cipriano Corva- FSIA

Cipriano Corva- FSIA — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:06:33 +0000

Spot on Kevin. Keep the Language of Safety debate going.The HSE have developed and distributed information on “Prevention of Falls”.With the exception of the Construction Industry, the risk of falls from any height or into depth must be prevented or reduced.The HSE “Brief Guide” on “The Work at Height – Regulations 2005 (as amended) sets out scientifically based regulations to prevent falls from “ANY HEIGHT”.These regulations “implement the European Council Directive 2001/45/EC. There are some 50 countries in the EC family – trust the Europeans to do it right.I should mention that even the Americans (given the state of their nation) are not far behind the EC approach; but where is Australia on the issues of Safety Laws?For those readers interested in promoting the Scientific approach to the prevention of Work caused injury, disease and death (class 1 damage – McDonald, G.) I pass on the following links:www.hse.gov.uk/press/2003/e03114.htm http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/92-108.htm Note that both the European Council and USA Administration encourage their regulatory effort from a “Safety and Health” scientific perspective rather than a “Health and Safety” awareness/commosense perspective by Australia; which begs the question – which comes first – the cart or the horse. It is sad and frustrating that Australia tends to take the “Rear-Vision” view like the horse behind the cart or guard at the rear of the train watching things pass him by rather looking ahead or better still, from the overhead view, like the helicopter pilot.The Rudd Government in its recently announced COAG Agreement to “Harmonise Australia’s Safety & Health Laws should take a serious look at how it will “get it right”when it comes to creating and maintaining A Safe and Healthy Australia.Best regards in SafetyCipriano

Comments on: The absurd “2-metre rule”

By: Cipriano Corva- FSIA