has OH&S gone overboard

[Durdge39]

Bob, that is the sort of thing I'm getting at. Sure there is these courses, and I'll agree they do make people think and reflect on a situation at hand, but the person running the course should have an in depth knowledge of what they are doing, far beyond what is written in legislation.

If people are provided with a resource of knowledge like that, they can, and probably will ask questions that are more in depth, and can be responded to in an adequate manner from someone who has the knowledge. If someone knows that a machine can kill them, fear will trigger the instinct to gain some more knowledge about it. That is what these courses lack. Your example is a classic version of that, I would say.

Maybe instead of fining people the moment they step out of line, OH&S regulators and authorities could provide someone (with genuine experience and knowledge, not just what is written on paper) to check out a work site every now and then, letting people know if they are doing something that could be hazardous, and just give them advice. If the practices are still shoddy the next time, then legal action can take place. But I'm sure there would be a myriad of paperwork to make those sorts of things impractical.

Also, if our government wants to protect its people so much, why don't they fork out the money for OH&S costs, instead of raking money in from fining people?

[rodm]

I have lifted this verbatum from an email in a lathe forum. I think it gives a good perspective on OHS.





Sometimes, you just gotta set out & do it.

Sometimes if you listen to the crowd, you never accomplish anything.
The Wright brothers didn't listen to the crowd. "They didn't have
OSHA overlooking them, either.

Other times, you may end up with a new nickname. "Stubby" comes to
mind.

I think you did the right thing, in this case.
1. You identified the problem.
2. You asked for information/guidance.
3. You evaluated the responses.
4. You mitigated the risks.
5. You made a choice.
6. You accomplished your goal.

[hughie]

No doubt the pendulum swings alway to the extreme. But given the idiotic things I have seen in regards instruction on doing various jobs over the years.

Its not surprising that we have the rules we have now.