Letters to the editor

Re. Editorial comment July issue: Ups and downs

With the less than adequate enforcing powers of the HSE further curtailed, the only route to justice for the many injured or those made ill by their work is via a civil claim. And it is the fear of such that helps to regulate the many rogue companies and cavalier management that is rife.

There are many examples I could recount, but I believe the best one is that of a friend who was a Research Metallurgist. One day a vessel containing acid residue exploded whilst the young man had been cleaning it. Paramedics were called and took the now quite clearly seriously injured individual to hospital, and the incident was subsequently reported to the HSE. However the incident wasn't investigated and I subsequently heard one of the managers saying “looks like we have got away with it”. Not so for my friend, who is married now with a young son to support and who can no longer practice as a metallurgist due to permanent damage to his eyes. The only redeeming factor being that he was able to bring a successful 'no-win- no-fee civil claim against his employer, which could not be defended because his management had not ensured the policy and procedure that had been recommended was in place.
My friend now has to lubricate his eyes every 20 minutes for the rest of his life (see HSM's Twitter page @TalkingSafety for an image of this process).

David Horner CMIOSH, MIIRSM, FRSPH, EurOSHM Principal Consultant PRS Europe

*************************

"I think your editorial really hits the point. Where have those wise words “suitable and sufficient” and “reasonably practicable” gone to? Where is personal responsibility? I spent thirty years in mining (Gold Fields of South Africa) and chemicals (ICI, Zeneca, Avecia and Invista) before, two years ago, joining an amazing eighty person specialist heat treatment company. Here it is all about engagement with our staff - educate, enthuse, encourage, challenge! And yes we don't always get it right but as our GM says “progress over perfection.” Name and address supplied.