safety discussion maybee?
I agree with both of u on the last one.
Regarding Nick i think it's what's said between the lines, not only in this thread, but also on the other one regarding his loading/unloading of the exc.:IMO
Then i think that this discusion is a bit deeper than so.
I've worked with Brittish operators in Iraq, and i think they also got a way to go in their mind regarding safety.:yup
I am then thinking of the way the operators think and act when operating equipment. I don't think that they are as safety minded as you are in the US.
I also think this has to do with age.
The older, the less safety focused.(and for many it is more difficult to change happits/oppinion when getting old)
Then safety and the discussion around this is a little "problematic", many see it as you look down on them and say's negative things on how good they are at operating the equipment. For many this becomes touchy.:exactly
I don't say this is the reason for Nick's disapereance, but it is something to think about.
Especialy when discussing with "elderly" operators, with a different culture than your own.
I don't say that this is especialy for UK, we got the same thing here in Norway. Many drive and do the same as they did in the 70's and 80's, with no improvements on the safety side.
But many firms (and the authorothies) are working on improwing this because of all the accidents that happends.
You might show up on a new job: Can u drive a mobilcrane? Yes. OK, take that one a go to xx and do the job there.(the crane is an example)
The education and training can be none and close to zero in many firms.
Then accidents tends to happend, because nobody has evaluated the nessecity of training and how much before u can operate on your own.
Your safety meetings is rearly hold, but here the maincontractor runs a course, that everybodys got to attend, to keep his butt free if something happends.
But, as u have seen, i note down (in my brain harddisc) all the comments and think on how to improve our way of doing things in my job. Instead of taking it personaly.(beeing openminded to improvements, of how thing can be done)
And i mean everybody should think that way, cause its the only way to improve yourself.
And u always have to remember; we are on the net, everybody can say what they mean, and that can be a pain in the *** sometimes.:naughty