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Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:19 pm
by lutonlagerlout
i appreciate the hse concerns over particles and silicosis,but when are people gonna kop on and start wearing muffs?
i have only 20 % hearing in my left ear due to being told as a lad that "earmuffs are for poofs"
TBH i would rather be a poof with great hearing,eyesight and clean lungs than some of the old latchekos i see in the pub bent double,deaf,blinded in 1 eye and coughing all the while
i insist on safety gear being used with the stihl,but wet cutting is not always practical
i have another little machine called an arbotech with is ok for cutting re:dust,but very slow compared to the ts 400
once people get a £500 fine for not using safety gear it might hit home a bit
rant over
LLL 
Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:38 pm
by Tony McC
One of the training courses I'd like to introduce via the HLTG will be "Basic Cut-Off Saw Skills and Maintenance", but I'm waiting to see what happens at this forum meeting on Friday, to see what the Elfin Safety have to say, and then to see if we can sub-out the course to one of the partner organisations that have offered to help out with the more generic courses, such as Saws, CAT Scanning for cables, Manual Handling, etc.
I note your comment about wet cutting not always being practical. If you have one of the pressure tanks, you can, in effect, wet cut any where, any time, regardless of whether there's a tap and hose available. Many of the local authorities that I work with both in Britain and in Ireland are now insisting on wet-cutting ONLY and it is a disciplinary matter to perform ANY cut without the water attachment. They only cost about 60 quid /100 Euro, which is a minimal investment if it protects your own health and that of your employees, and it prevents you being landed with a weighty fine.
Pnemonosilicosis is a slow-fuse timebomb that will only really start to take effect over the next 15-20 years as those of us in my generation, the first to be 'brought-up' with cut-off saws, reach our prime years and start to develop many of the same diseases that decimated the colliers back in the 50's, 60s and 70s.
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:35 pm
by Dave_L
I always have my ear defenders handy - my job is probably one of the noisest jobs going.
Drilling, sawing, machine laying and compaction - not good.
Trouble is, sometimes, you need to be able to hear somebody shouting, either an instruction or a STOP!!!!
Anybody see that surfacing gang on Top Gear last night? Even they were all wearing ear protection......
None fo the other lads wear anything to protect their ears. Today, we were working inside our yard, removing secions of concrete floor to install an additional doorway - and one of our lads was there with the JCB breaker, drilling into said concrete, with no ear protection.
Must admit, Stihl saw dust does concern me.
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:39 pm
by Stuarty
I have to admit, ive never once been taught the correct or safe methods how to use a stihl saw or what dangers i should be aware of. We dont have a water kit for the saw either. On all of the kit i use, im self-taught. Sometimes it feels as if my employer doesnt know health and safety law, or has very little regard for it.
And i agree with Dave, the dust also concerns me
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:15 pm
by Dave_L
OK...so when cutting, say an pre-cast concrete edger, what 'sort' of respiratory protection should be worn?
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:16 am
by lutonlagerlout
i think what they are saying dave, is that you should have a water feed connected to the saw for any cut,maybe like those flamethrower back packs beloved of old warfilms.
i know that its always best to mention to neighbours if we are cutting toothings in BWK.
tried using water on that type of job before and it made a terrible mess of the house===>water and brick dust slurry all over windows etc.
cheers LLL
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 9:33 am
by Tony McC
Dave - when cutting any paving unit, you should be wearing a basic dust mask as a minimum, and there should be a water attachment, but not the 'backpack' type envisioned by our Luton correspondent, more a sort of stand alone type, as in this piccie....
... holds about 15 litres, and by pumping the black handle on top of the 'bottle' half a dozen times, that build up enough internal pressure to send water through the pipe and out onto the cutting blade.
No need for a tap, no need for lectrickery, nowt to go go wrong, and almost impossible to break. It just needs topping up with clean water every 5-10 mins
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:28 pm
by lutonlagerlout
a-ha
thanks T ,i know one of the biggest drawbacks that i have found is that your legs get soaked and its no fun cutting in wellington boots
thanks LLL
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 5:04 pm
by Tony McC
I'd rather have wet wellies than shite-coated lungs! :p
Easy - get a pair of waterproof leggings and give them to the apprentice while s/he does the cutting! Experience, you see: it can't be bought! 
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 12:37 am
by lutonlagerlout
my apprentice is the only bloke i know who can cut arcs with a 13 "diamond blade!!
a lot of people pay good money for curved cuts but he does them as if by magic
sadly never when required 
and yes he has had loads of training,supervision etc
i think cutting is one of those skills that come with experience
i always say"respect the saw, but don't fear it"
regards LLL
Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:32 pm
by fleetwing
you can connect a hose to the saw, if you have a water supply. saves having to fill up the bottle every 15 minutes
Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:02 am
by seanandruby
i am on a multi million pound contract and some of the safety issues get breached. we are under ground at the moment with pile caps getting cut and broke. i have totally refused to do either because of lack of safety gear. but you always get the " lachies" who will do it for fear of losing their job, or, to win brownie points :p . the dust from the cutting and blow pipes is sometimes like the old pea souper. ive seen them with one cutting and one close up with a bucket of water pouring it on the blade, both covered in shite. why? one day i will post pickies on here you will be amazed at the stupidity. there is no need for it as the top governer spends millions on safety awareness. it comes down to local management and bullying tactics to get the job done. safety dictates if its not safe then dont do it.