DOC & OSH

[MSTRS:Me]

Couldn't find this article on-line so had to scan it. The article initially is referring to the Cave Creek incident and the bullshit that passed for an inquiry/resolution. Police wanted to charge 'somebody' with manslaughter but were unable to as the enquiry found that "nobody was to blame other than 'systematic' failure and departmental 'underfunding'." Read the rest that I was able to scan & let's hear your comments.
The last column and in particular the last paragraph underscore the bullshit we all have to put up with these days. I miss the days when I had to think for myself.

[MSTRS:Me]

I know that this would appear to have nothing to do with motorcycles, but the tenets are the same. Regulations are strangling us. Roads are blamed for being dangerous, not the people on them. How long before the Japanese system of limiting topspeed is enacted here? ACC levies on bikers are higher than other roadusers - how long before we have to pay extra for treatment too (when it all comes unstuck).

[Lou Girardin]

Those 'systemic' failures are a Godsend for guilty people. We really do live in the Land of the Long Whitewash.
At least, as result of Cave Creek, Govt departments and staff can be charged as a result of their negligence.

[Motu]

Scary shit alright - like the French removing all the roadside trees because they are killing people...there's always something or someone else to blame,no one is guilty...and worse,we are teaching it to our kids,read a crash report on KiwiBiker....

[MSTRS:Me]

The worst part is that things are rapidly reaching the point where if the situation is not covered by some law/regulation, nothing can happen until the 'relevant' law/regulation is brought into being.

[mangell6]

I am never to blame, you created the situation that is why it happened so YOU are to blame.

The laws getting to be such that I am no longer responsible for my own actions but the actions of others.

[idb]

The worst part is that things are rapidly reaching the point where if the situation is not covered by some law/regulation, nothing can happen until the 'relevant' law/regulation is brought into being.

I remember when I first started in business and the OSH regs had just come into effect.
OSH told us that we had to have Hazard Management Plans for everything to protect ourselves if anything happened i.e. if you are able to show that you have paperwork then you should be safe from prosecution.
We spent days & weeks on this and then took it to OSH for their perusal and advise.
"Will this do sir?" we asked in small frightened voices.
Their general response was no response. We were on our own.
Because the regs were new there was no case law so their policy appeared to be "we won't use any judgement, we'll just prosecute everyone and let the courts decide."
I was more terrified of OSH in those days than the bloody IRD.

[Krusti]

You know why they are called OSH?

Cause when one of your workers have an accident and OSH turns up you go......... Oh - Shit - Here they are. .

[Timber020]

Osh inspectors are the pits, they are either clueless govt workers who dont know anything aside from refering to the manual or they are guys that were in the industry that were to lazy or incompetitant to keep at it and ended up finding a job with OSH telling more experienced guys how to do it.

Osh is just looking for someone or something to blame for every accident or incident that happens on the worksite. They have the same grasp of worksite safety in the real world as I have of cold fusion.

I have a job to do next week that would effectively take (by osh specs) 4 guys on road control, Me, a site manager, 3 groundmen, about $3000 in signs and roadcones, $2000 in linemen. A crane (at 800 per day) and a couple of dump trucks. (or detour the whole road which is mega trouble and $$$) Doing this would attract osh who would turn up, get in our way and find about $2000 in fines for stuff like not having the right model glow vests or one of the groundies not being signed on properly or using an illegal chainsaw.

We will do the job with me, 3 guys on the ground and thats it. We will risk the rest as while we keep it small we will attract less attention and trouble and the chances of something going wrong are minimal.

Come here you pencil pushing shiny hardhat wearing egotistical know all power tripping government sponsored lemming, I have a worksite injury that you can experience first hand!

[idb]

Osh inspectors are the pits, they are either clueless govt workers who dont know anything aside from refering to the manual or they are guys that were in the industry that were to lazy or incompetitant to keep at it and ended up finding a job with OSH telling more experienced guys how to do it.

Osh is just looking for someone or something to blame for every accident or incident that happens on the worksite. They have the same grasp of worksite safety in the real world as I have of cold fusion.

I have a job to do next week that would effectively take (by osh specs) 4 guys on road control, Me, a site manager, 3 groundmen, about $3000 in signs and roadcones, $2000 in linemen. A crane (at 800 per day) and a couple of dump trucks. (or detour the whole road which is mega trouble and $$$) Doing this would attract osh who would turn up, get in our way and find about $2000 in fines for stuff like not having the right model glow vests or one of the groundies not being signed on properly or using an illegal chainsaw.

We will do the job with me, 3 guys on the ground and thats it. We will risk the rest as while we keep it small we will attract less attention and trouble and the chances of something going wrong are minimal.

Come here you pencil pushing shiny hardhat wearing egotistical know all power tripping government sponsored lemming, I have a worksite injury that you can experience first hand!

Continuing the rant...how did you feel about having to replace all of your road cones 2 years ago when the Wellington gre-suits decided that the old ones were 3 inches too short?

[MSTRS:Me]

Continuing the rant...how did you feel about having to replace all of your road cones 2 years ago when the Wellington gre-suits decided that the old ones were 3 inches too short?

WTF? This is the kind of bureaucraticbullshitreplacingcommonsense that I am talking about.

[Timber020]

Oh that was great, bloody great thinking by the guys whose hands are never soiled, fortunately I seldom work near bigger roads as the laws on traffic control are simply incredible. I will have to get more cones soon as well dammit.
What really got me was when they made screwgate karabiners illegal, so I spent a small ransom replaceing all mine with 2 action locking Karabiners, 4 months later those were declared to be illegal to.......So now I have tri locks.

What OSH know about working in dangerous environments would fit on a scooter tyres contact patch.

[idb]

Oh that was great, bloody great thinking by the guys whose hands are never soiled, fortunately I seldom work near bigger roads as the laws on traffic control are simply incredible. I will have to get more cones soon as well dammit.
What really got me was when they made screwgate karabiners illegal, so I spent a small ransom replaceing all mine with 2 action locking Karabiners, 4 months later those were declared to be illegal to.......So now I have tri locks.

What OSH know about working in dangerous environments would fit on a scooter tyres contact patch.

My theory is that there is a small band of suits whose job it is to come up with the working on the road safety rules.
After years of toil they were finally able to sit back, share a Chardonnay and congratulate each other on a job well done.
It would have been into their second or third glass when the conversation went quiet and they all looked at each other in silence having all come to the realisation at the same time that they had just done themselves out of a job.
What to do - why, start again of course!