[modeleng] Re: Shut yards, HSE and spoiling of fun

Andy,
We might believe, that we have the "gift of distincion" and will keep 
out of harms way, and we are, I believe, more often then not right about 
that, but not everybody is...
Only two days ago, a railworker got himself killed in a marshalling yard 
in Genk (Limburg,Flanders), when he was crushed between two boxcars...., 
on account of the engine driver ,derailing a freight train ,by reversing 
towards it at high speed...
On the other hand, people need a "drivers license" for a pair of roller 
blades, these days and common sense is out of the window...
So we evolved, to our dismay, into a gaggle of  frightened maidens,that 
is shying away from everything that can be called risky..
Patrick

R.L. Roebuck wrote:

>On Thu, 21 Jun 2007, andya@xxxxxxxx wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Why is it that visitors
>>are not allowed into the yard at Bridgenorth? So many
>>railways these days are shuting the yards and claiming
>>health and saftey. Spoils the fun and takes away a large
>>part of the experince for the younger generation.
>>
>>Andy
>>    
>>
>
>>From what I've seen the issue is that people seem to mix up the Health and 
>Safety aspect with the blame and litigation culture.
>
>The yards aren't being shut because the health and safety issues, they're 
>being shut because people are scared of being blamed for an accident, 
>getting into trouble and/or sued.
>
>A classis example was that the HSE was concerned about people being taken 
>for footplate rides at Bressingham Steam Museum (btw if anyone knows the 
>facts better than I, then please chip in, I'm only relaying it as I heard 
>it).
>
>There was an investigation/court-case where in the end HSE were happy 
>that Bressingham could continue giving footplate rides.
>
>HOWEVER, as a result of all the issues that HSE raised, Bressingham 
>decided that they didn't want to continue giving the rides, because they 
>then feared what would happen if an accident happened.
>
>Personally, when I was ten years old, and went to Eaton Park (in Norwich) 
>to ride on the model engineers track there, I didn't mind a jot if my 
>clothes got a few cinders on them (neither did my dad, though mum wasn't 
>quite as happy).
>
>Although I've never had a major injury (and neither has anyone else whilst 
>on my 'watch'); I've had plenty of minor injuries, and they never bothered 
>me. Infact when I gather with old colleagues a fair proportion of our 
>remeniscences revolve around humourous mishaps.
>
>The problem is though, that over the years, there have been people who I 
>have point blank refused to work with, as you just know that if they 
>worked with you for long enough, someone would be injured or killed. 
>Either because they aren't 'switched on'; or because they have become 
>complacement.
>
>As I see it, the HSE stuff isn't just there to protect these people from 
>themselves (cleansing the gene pool, did someone refer to it as) but it's 
>to stop them from cleansing YOU from the gene pool as a result of their 
>mistakes.
>
>Would anyone else care to comment, or disagree with my thoughts?
>
>Yours,
>
>
>Rich.
>MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST.
>
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>  
>


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