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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:29 pm
by Tony McC
The HSE (Health & Safety Executive in Britain rather than the Health Service Executive in Ireland) are planning to issue a new advisory poster for filter masks (or "filtering facepieces" as they seem to call them) in the New Year and as part of the work pavingexpert.com has been doing regarding the new guidance on the cutting of paving, we've been asked to invite constructive comments on the proposed poster by 16th January 2009.
RPE (Respiratory Protection Equipment) is a question featured in the project questionnaire and is an important part of the protective equipment that we are asking workers to use alongside water suppression. Over 60 responses to the questionnaire have been received so far. Ensure you have your say by giving just a couple of minutes of your time TODAY.
Any comments regarding the Face Mask poster can be made here on on the Web Community message board.
I like this approach from HSE. Rather than impose rules and regulation from on high, they are actively seeking guidance from those of us who actually work with the kit, and therefore we should have a more informed opinion than the academics, desk pilots and Occupational Elfs that normally issue these documents. This is OUR industry and we should do OUR bit to promote OUR health and safety.
Download the full PDF of the proposed poster here. A low-res screenshot is reproduced below...
Edited By Tony McC on 1229682865
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:42 pm
by oioisonnyboy
sounds like something from sylvester & tweety pie
thufferin' thuccotash...filtering facepieces! 
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:46 pm
by seanandruby
oioisonnyboy wrote:sounds like something from sylvester & tweety pie
thufferin' thuccotash...filtering facepieces!
could be something that keeps you fit and healthy, used alongside water suppresent etc. :;):
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:19 pm
by GB_Groundworks
are they advising i shave the outline of the mask in my beard/stubble, the mrs wont be happy she likes the beard haha
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:21 pm
by GB_Groundworks
tony the community message board link is wrong getting a 404 as pavingexpert has been append on the front of the link
link goes to "http://ext.pavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/ib3 ... .community"
instead of
http://webcommunities.hse.gov.uk/inovem....mmunity
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 5:48 am
by seanandruby
its still not being enforced on my job. i watch a bricklayer doing a split course of blockwork ( and there is a lot of it ) in an underground car park. he disappears in a cloud of dust 20/30 times a day, no water and no mask. the office staff turn a blind eye. i applied for the dvd and gave it to the safety bod along with a load of leaflets, nothing was shown and no leaflets given out. i might apply for another and just leave the leaflets on the canteen tables.
I follow the safety rule with mask, water ppe and exclusion area how can i make others do it? i have tried and failed. 
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 5:59 am
by Suggers
Keep going Sean - in the end, you prob have to lead by example.
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:42 am
by oioisonnyboy
alright seriously
masks are definitely worthwhile but crappy little bits of cloth with a filter on the front are just not worth a carrotin my experience. wet cutting is the best way to go, but how often wil you get 2 men to carry kerb (not allowed to lift on your own) to water supply, cut it, carry back to where you are laying. Same with manhole rings.
I dare say they do keep you fit and healthy but until it is written into contracts that main contractors or employers have to provide wet cutting gear or an adequate supply of dust masks then benefits will be small. Just spent 3 months on a carillion job and have not of anyhing about wet cutting or masks. Looked at the questionnaire and I can say that I have heard nothing, no leaflets, no paving markers, sweet fa.
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:00 am
by RAPressureWashing
We use mask's daily, the make we use is 3M with throw away filters, I'll try to find model number later today.
They cost around £30.00, filters last about 6 month's and around £10.00 a set so not expensive. I too have a beard/stubble but have no problems with the fit, as we are using chemicals I would be able to smell them if the fit wasn't correct and never do till mask is removed.
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:09 pm
by seanandruby
oioisonnyboy wrote:alright seriously
masks are definitely worthwhile but crappy little bits of cloth with a filter on the front are just not worth a carrotin my experience. wet cutting is the best way to go, but how often wil you get 2 men to carry kerb (not allowed to lift on your own) to water supply, cut it, carry back to where you are laying. Same with manhole rings.
I dare say they do keep you fit and healthy but until it is written into contracts that main contractors or employers have to provide wet cutting gear or an adequate supply of dust masks then benefits will be small. Just spent 3 months on a carillion job and have not of anyhing about wet cutting or masks. Looked at the questionnaire and I can say that I have heard nothing, no leaflets, no paving markers, sweet fa.
why would you carry a kerb somewhere to cut it, or manhole ring?
i always cut it near where its being laid. you can use a water
attatchment, or an hose pipe, or a bowser etc. even wet cutting
i still wear a mask. i was on a carrilion job not long ago and was
really impressed with their safety.
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:02 pm
by GB_Groundworks
stihl do a specialist bottle that you pump the pressure up in then use that to wet cut with or i improvised one out of an old pump garden sprayer, fill with water pump up the pressure and away you go.
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:04 am
by oioisonnyboy
carillion job I was on was around a T shaped road on a new estate with only one water supply, I think the whole job was 14 units each one about 400-600m2.
As for H&S I suppose it depends on site management, mad keen on glasses & gloves for everyone...lost count of how many times I got threatened with card for no gloves while tying steel or for no goggles over my normal glasses, but other H&S isssues were overlooked as well as site agent on this job spent at least 5 hours a day on second life on his laptop.
Starting a school for them in Jan so I will ask about the new legislation on cutting and wait for the blank stares
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:26 pm
by seanandruby
perhaps you can volunteer for the safety committee. i worked on the queen alexandra hospital in portsmouth for them and as i said " was impressed with their h@s." trouble is these days there are too many trying to get us for the glasses and gloves and ignoring the bigger issues. its like their get out of jail card. i make sure i have a genuine safety concern for when i get a tug and direct them to it.
it's usually the young guns who are out to make a name for themselves that tend to pull you up, the older boys knows the score.
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:58 pm
by lutonlagerlout
a guy who lived near me was killed earlier this month by a digger bucket,apparently they were digging different sized trenches and the driver didnt put the safety pin back (this is cafe talk btw)
accident link
building sites are inherently dangerous places
LLL
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:54 pm
by seanandruby
we have had two more killed on our firm in the last month, one got killed in an explosion ( gas bottles blew up ) several injured and a scaffolder fell on another job. very dangerous places your right lll.