Following procedure.
I've been a member of a few committees now over the last few years - the Occupational Safety & Health committee at work, the school Parent's & Citizens committee, the local Soccer Club committee etc.
You name it I've probably put my hand up for it.

1 thing that I have found & take issue with - the amount of bureaucratic procedures that seem to be very strictly adhered to. To the "nth" degree.

Cases in point -
Years ago when I was in the State Emergency Service (SES - we go & put a tarpaulin on your roof when it blows off during a storm) we would get called out to help the local volunteer fire-brigade with bush-fires. But because of red-tape, unless they specifically asked for us we would have to sit in our vehicles nearby and wait. This was because our insurance liability would only cover us if they couldn't cope and called us in. Thus instead of having to help them with a *relatively* small fire we would have to wait to help them only when it was an unmanageable blaze & frequently put all of us at greater risk.

At the local P&C we need a quorum of 10 to make decisions. Some of our members can be quite *ahem* lax about our once a month meetings. Even if all the executive is present (of which I am a member) we still cannot act if we don't have a quorum. We have about AUD$25,000 in funds and about 15 major projects around the school waiting to be ratified.

EDIT: just remembered another 1 -
As a soccer coach I can only provide instant ice-packs and band-aids to any injured player unless I have a club rep. present who has St. Johns Ambulance training. This is despite the fact that I have Accredited St. John's senior training myself. So for example - I can ice an injury but I cannot apply a splint if it's needed just because the club doesn't recognise my qualification - even tho both qualifications come from the same organisation.

As the OSH rep @ work I regularly get some silly paper-work. The best, most recent I can think of was a risk/incident form put in because a residents bed-side lamp (provided by them) wasn't bright enough to go to the loo during the night.
Now if I'd got a work order for this I'd just swap the old globe out for 1 of the many long-life neon globes I have in my shed. But because a form was put in now I have to contact the family and get them to provide whatever globe they come up with whenever they next come to visit - could be a month. In the mean time if she goes arse-over-tit then us as a facility have to cope with it. Even tho I have the globes onsite!
(In this case her lamp magically morphed into a tested & tagged touch lamp with a nice bright long-life neon globe. Amazing)

There is always a work-around - but the fact that the hurdles exist is really fucking sad and frustrating. Think about this - this is only at a very low level of bureaucracy and governance. Imagine what it's like further up the ladder?
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Sun 24 Jun 2012, 7:32, 24 replies)

We had a similar incident at work
whereby 2 blokes (Surveyor and Assistant)were staying in a local pub for a few weeks, working on a remote project.

Naturally, they get on the piss, and in the middle of the night, the assistant gets out of bed and goes to piss out of the window, rather than walk down the hall and use the shared toilets.

He loses his balance and falls through the window, 2 storeys onto the road.

In hospital for 2 weeks.

Tried to blame the pub for not having a bedside light in the room as the room was "too dark", and it was "too far" to the main light switch. Didn't concede that pissing out a window is not standard practice, even in pubs.

He doesn't work for us anymore.
( Ken Oath, Sun 24 Jun 2012, 8:12, closed)

Gets a click for -
"Didn't concede that pissing out a window is not standard practice, even in pubs."
Cause it's not like you're ever going to piss out of a window at home. Or at work. Or even the bathroom sink...
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Sun 24 Jun 2012, 8:30, closed)

We get that a quite a bit.
I work for a radio company, maintaining comms gear. Some sites need all kinds of inductions and paperwork for maintenance visits, but can swing something for emergency repairs.

I'm guessing that this lamp you're talking about just plain broke, all by itself, beyond economic repair, and a high priority for replacement?
(gordonjcp, Sun 24 Jun 2012, 9:57, closed)

Since I hadn't had a chance yet to test & tag it.
I made sure that the lamp in her room was tested & tagged and had a fluoro bulb in it.
:)
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Sun 24 Jun 2012, 10:22, closed)

Well obviously
no PAT tag, might not be safe. Better safe than sorry eh?
(gordonjcp, Sun 24 Jun 2012, 11:45, closed)

What lamp?

(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Sun 24 Jun 2012, 12:27, closed)

We had some dudes come around and tag all our electronic shit when we were onsite in Western Qld.
It was a requirement from the client.

I had a USB cable connecting my laptop to my survey controller, it was completely eaten through by mice (100's of the buggers would get into the cabins at night).

There was no plastic sheath left at all, just bare wire. He tagged it. Low voltage (if any voltage at all), but still, it was pretty shit.
Also, the main power cable to the server was in the same shape. That got tagged too. I think he missed the point of testing and tagging.

He went through 18 blokes electronic equipment in about 30 minutes, laptops, PC's, battery chargers, drills.
( Ken Oath, Sun 24 Jun 2012, 12:31, closed)

Can't remember how many thousands of dollars I charged for that job.
Srsly - a room of say 10 items takes me nearly an hour - but then I can be a bit of a pedantic cunt.
EDIT: That's including paperwork - I'm not that slow & lumbering.

& I'm not kidding about the cost. I worked it out for my manager. My training cost the organisation about $300 for 2 days. Prior to that we were paying about $400 per site visit and then on top per room/appliance. Our turnover in change of residents this year has been the highest ever. Each new resi needs their equipment tagged upon moving in.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Sun 24 Jun 2012, 12:54, closed)

SES has changed
Or at least our unit has (if it were ever that bad). We'll go and check if a householder wants assistance (though we don't ever deal with fires, we leave that to the firies). From what I've heard, some units can be a bit obsessed with following regulations but we tend to obey the spirit rather than the word of law (e.g. you *must* wear your protective gloves. Sod that, how am I meant to tie a knot in this sandbag/rope with them on?). Most of us seem to be in the SES because they enjoy helping people, though there's also a lot of us motivated by playing with the toys (chainsaws, pumps and ropes). Me? I just love dressing like a carrot.
( SteamedCleaner, Sun 24 Jun 2012, 14:35, closed)

"globe"
Australian for lightbulb?
(tyrellsOwl, Sun 24 Jun 2012, 18:19, closed)

Just me really - can't talk for the other 20 odd million Aussies.
But, yes.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Sun 24 Jun 2012, 23:13, closed)

You don't know how risk assessments work
don't let that get in the way of a dull story though
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Mon 25 Jun 2012, 7:44, closed)

How do you come to that conclusion? The risk assessments, not the dull story.

(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Mon 25 Jun 2012, 13:01, closed)

A standard falls risk assessment will impliedly include reasonable lighting levels from the provider
to obviate this by stating that a resident hasn't provided the home with the means of that reasonable level of lighting is a pretty spacticated thing to state. You have no idea how to 'risk assess' let alone hang pictures on the wall or whatever else you feel fills your pointless day oh fearless Health and Safety operative.
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Mon 25 Jun 2012, 13:29, closed)

I pass the hat to you
clearly you've done this a lot and know exactly what you're on about and I know absolutely fuck-all.

I'm amazed Rory at how much info does seem to seep thru into you little head over our many "conversations" compared with how much bogus crap you can glean and then extrapolate from 5 or 6 lines in a single post.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Mon 25 Jun 2012, 21:47, closed)

haha your shit at your shit job

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Tue 26 Jun 2012, 9:14, closed)

*you're*
Yes Rory I am absolutely shit at my job.

That's why I've been nominated and then voted in as the OSH and union rep for it.
I'm so shit that other sites for the organisation I work for ask me to fill in for their handymen & gardeners to cover their leave.

Your work commitments must be fairly light that you can spend all this time on b3ta and not be working.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Tue 26 Jun 2012, 10:43, closed)

Ha your shit at your shit job and just to prove it your the union rep
a union rep, who can't risk assess, and boasts that he's so good other work sites draft him in to sweep up leaves in accordance with his work obligations.

Wow, they must give you a lollipop at the end of each day as well
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Tue 26 Jun 2012, 17:16, closed)

Yup. You got me - it's a choccy bar actually.
So. Great captain of Industry. What is it that you do all day?
To earn a wage, to provide for your family, to better yourself and help others?
Unlike your thinking Rory - my job doesn't define who I am.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Tue 26 Jun 2012, 21:28, closed)

That's what you tell yourself at night, when you look in the mirror, gradually looking older, uglier, fatter, balder, a facsimile of your old man who you grew up never knowing
too stupid to ever achieve your childhood ambition of being a bus driver, you're faintly aware of the pitying glances from your childhood friends. You can never hold your head up in their company. "FUCK YOU ALL", YOU CRY "IM THE UNION REP NOW AND MY JOB DOESN'T DEFINE WHO I AM ANYWAY.... PLUS I'M THE ONSITE OSH REP AND GOT ELECTED TO THAT NOT OUT OF ANY SENSE OF CHARITY BUT BECAUSE OF MY MAD SKILLZ RISK ASSESSMENTS!!!!!"

You then go to tuck your child up in bed, unaware that they've cried themselves to sleep again because the other kids have bullied them over their loser dad who sweeps up leaves.
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 27 Jun 2012, 7:30, closed)

I like that you put so much time into thinking about me.

(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Wed 27 Jun 2012, 22:36, closed)

you need all the help you can get

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Thu 28 Jun 2012, 10:00, closed)

Aww. That's sweet.
Again - loving the attention.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Thu 28 Jun 2012, 10:09, closed)

The volunteer firefighters
couldn't just ask for help sooner, then?
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Mon 25 Jun 2012, 9:27, closed)

No.

(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Mon 25 Jun 2012, 13:01, closed)