Feeling Hot Hot Hot !!!

[beamo]

Invisible

These issues are covered by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPEWR 1992).

Essentially the employer carries out an assessment of risks and hazards, decides what PPE is appropriate, and then issues it (free) to employees as appropriate.

There is no 'blanket' requirement for hard hats or Hi-Viz (or safety boots for that matter) on archaeological sites - this is for the employer to decide after assessing the risks and hazards.

PPE should only be issued and used if there is no other practical way of reducing the risks, eg. you might issue Hi-Viz if working on the central reservation of a dual-carriageway, but it would be more sensible to eliminate most of the risk by having the road closed for the duration of the works (extreme example - no comment required).

When issued to employees, PPE has to be in good condition and appropriate for the purpose - sufficient instruction should be provided. Adequate storage and maintenance facilities should be provided.

For employees, PPE should be used correctly when issued - wearing of hard hats the wrong way round constitutes improper use and could leave an employee open to disciplinary proceedings (and even a criminal charge if the HSE get involved).


Beamo

[Galaxsea]

Nice words Beamo.

The weather should be taken into account within the site risk assessments. If there is no overhead working then the wearing of a hard hat is pointless. It would also be deemed an additional hazard in the current weather.
However, if overhead working is taking place in your area of works, or you are working in a trench environment where trench depth is 1 metre of more you should wear appropriate head protection.
Personnaly I wouldn't get a bump cap. They don't give anything like the same level of protection as a hard hat.

I currently look after 180 field engineers. They are instructed to wear hi viz vests when working in a transport environment only.
If you are working on a site and there is any form of mechanical excavation, material removal of delivery of you are adjacent to a traffic route of any sort then hi viz would be mandatory and essential to your safety.



Galaxsea - Proud to be the illegitimate son of Troll.

[the invisible man]

Thanks for the confirmation guys.

We owe the dead nothing but the truth.

[flashdigger]

The thing that has been driving me more crazy than the heat on site is the damn bugs. THe little black flying beetle type ones and the little black wiggly ones. You know the ones i mean, they just love PPE. Now all other bugs will come and have a look, but when they realize you arent food they buzz of but these little blighters are too stupid for that and just stay there until you mutilate them.They have no use on this earth than annoying archaeologists trying to do there job!
Anyone found a way of keeping the bugs away? Repellant has no effect at all. Ive tried reducing the population as best i can but am fighting a losing battle

[gumbo]

I find the only solution is to howl out loud, run ten metres away from your ditch section and in an act of defiance sling away your infested PPE.

Obviously the real problems come when your on a site where you cant take your PPE off. I do find the little blighters like yellow PPE a lot more than railway orange. Perhaps playing in 'change kit' is the best way forward?

Gumbo

[Gilraen]

Just heard a snippet from the news the other day on Radio 2 - the construction industry is getting into trouble at the moment for not providing their staff with sun protection cream, so it's not just us.

[Curator Kid]

quote:Originally posted by flashdigger

The thing that has been driving me more crazy than the heat on site is the damn bugs.

Not sure how to repel the little wiggly things (I always hated them too), but most bitey things will leave you alone if you are a regular drinker of tonic water, because they can't stand the Quinine in it. Some people are unfortunatley very tasty to insects[xx(], but for me it worked a treat - I was in the middle east for a couple of years and barely got touched.

I like to take my tonic water with an entirely medicinal and extremely generous slug of Bombay Sapphire. [:p]

[kevin wooldridge]

I don't know how the weather is in UK today (still pretty warm here in Scandinavia) but.....

I see that the current BAJR advert for Oxford Archaeology (Environmental Field Supervisor) includes amongst 7 good reasons to work in Oxford, that it has 'cool bars'.

I am guessing this means air conditioned!!