Edinburgh Military Tattoo

[Dick Moby]

Don't get me wrong, I know the regs are there to protect people, but where my safety is concerned I'll be the judge of what I can or cannot use.
I don't need somebody with a degree and no practical experience to tell me what's safe.

[RoddersUK]

Are you refering to an HSE inspector? They do need a Degree and alot of them aint got the sense they were born with. Insurance Company Engineer Surveyors recruited from our Armed Services are extremely competent persons and I can assure you and anybody else that, as I have to sign and date a report of my inspection I will not pass any lifting tackle that does not come up to spec. I would have to answer to a High Court Judge if a client were to suffer serious injury or death due to my oversight. With lifting tackle, as far as I am concerned, if in doubt chuck it out. My view is, would I use it? If I would then I am happy to pass it, if not I refuse to pass it and reccomend its destruction. If at the next inspection it is still in use I will issue a serious defect and let the HSE get involved.
I have been working with tackle, rope (sisal and wire) and chain for over 40 years and I know a bit about what fucks em up. Usualy bad treatment.

[Dick Moby]

Rodders, you obviously have some hands on experience, but the last kid who did the survey was a young lad in his mid twenties. I've been with previous inspectors (mainly to show them where things were) and they were all blokes in their 50's/60's and they seemed to know their stuff. What concerned me about the the young lad was the fact that he was off his head on dope when some of my workmates met him at night. I don't know what he was on ,or how long the stuff would have stayed in his system, but the fact remains that this bloke is an accident waiting to happen. Given that this bloke spends a large part of his time on the road and his main concern when he left us, was to get home, I suspect he will not last long.

[RoddersUK]

Thanks for that Dick, but you have a duty of care to yourself and your work colleagues to report him to your management and his management. Young twatts like that are not the norm in my profession. I think the youngest surveyor in my area is 30 something and he, though new to the company, is very competent.
As for experience, REME began familiarisation courses in HASAWA in 1977 and I attended the first course at Arborfield. That was my entry into Health & Safety and in 1986 I took a formal qualification in Health and Safety Management before I left the Kate and now I get to see these Elf n Safety wankers when I visit council offices and some government offices as well.
The vast majority of surveyors, especially the ex service chaps are extremely competent. The one thing about the services is this. Everyone starts at the bottom and works their way up through experience and competence, even the Ruperts.

[Dick Moby]

I can't disagree with the Rupert's working their way up the ladder due to their experience and competence but it always amazes me, that the top brass always seem to have frightfully posh accents and have double barrelled names.
You could prove me wrong, but I can't remember seeing any high ranking officers on TV called Joe Smith and the like.

[RoddersUK]

A lot of the ordinary Ruperts are in the Corps. Over 50% commissioned in REME are former Artificer WOs. I met some real gor blimey types in my REME career and you had to be careful around em. The old adage that an ex poacher makes the best game keeper comes to mind.
The Bootys and Paras have a lot of gor blimey commissioned types, as they go for professionalism and skill at arms rather than if daddy had a pile.
Having said that, General Mike Jackson was a soldiers soldier. My son presented him with the sit reps each morning when they were in Bosnia and Kosovo and again when in Iraq and he and his mates would follow him anywhere.
Some of the young Ruperts in the Jock Guards were real gentlemen and though they were of privilige they never pushed it. They just didn't have to.

[RoddersUK]

What's a spazz? It aint a term I've heard.
As for nigger, it's a colour innit?

[belfast_birty]

Hey!! I was a Surveyor Engineering T3-many years ago!