Thread: Safety frustration at the mens shed

Originally Posted by BobL

Someone finally worked out why the TS is releasing a lot of dust.
Attachment 436894

I wonder how long it will take before they realize that 4" port is too small.

even a 6" port is not big enough once it is blocked by offcuts

Originally Posted by ian

even a 6" port is not big enough once it is blocked by offcuts

Sure, a plan for regular inspection and clearance of the offcuts wouldn't go astray either.

Originally Posted by BobL

Sure, a plan for regular inspection and clearance of the offcuts wouldn't go astray either.

Everybody knows, somebody will do it ......

older chap at our shed when pulled up said - "I've been doing it like this for 50 years"
I said "I don't give a &^#*, you've been doing it dangerously for 50 years" followed up with " not on my watch, I don't know how to call for an ambulance"
we than have a slanging match and he gives up,

Simple solution.
No machine work until the members get, Somebody and Anybody, or Everybody to sign up. If Nobody signs up first it is a hand tool day.


Bloke walked into the lunch room and asked if he could borrow a jack. Everyone pointed to Jack.
Jack was eating lunch. Bloke had to wait. Jack was used to lift vehicle to change tyre. A different jack was used.

Originally Posted by Handyjack

Simple solution.
No machine work until the members get, Somebody and Anybody, or Everybody to sign up. If Nobody signs up first it is a hand tool day.

It's far from simple. The members have already signed up to work safely, but some one has to enforce it. Right from the top it's all very casual, the committee is too casual, focus seems to be mainly on fund raising, getting more gear and getting more members, and they too concerned about frightening members away etc. I also like casual, - but not too casual and not when it impacts safety.

Originally Posted by BobL

Right from the top it's all very casual, the committee is too casual, focus seems to be mainly on fund raising, getting more gear and getting more members, and they too concerned about frightening members away etc. I also like casual, - but not too casual and not when it impacts safety.

unfortunately, nothing will change till after one of the members incurs a serious injury ...

I don't think people comprehend the danger of letting go of timber and pulling it through on the other side my Dad tried this and ended up with half his hand missing when kick back occured.

Originally Posted by ian

unfortunately, nothing will change till after one of the members incurs a serious injury ...

Yep - I just don't want to be there when it happens.

none of us do

Bob you are pushing #$%^ uphill with a small stick by you going in and barking at them for all the reason that have been already mention in this thread..alway done it this way ..you do tell me what to do.. just do care about themself or others...or just don't get it.
A much larger stick is need.....If someone get seriously hurt (let's hope not) and the legal eagles get involved the day coordinator and the committee might be a sorry that they were not a bit more tougher on enforcing the safety measures.
And it will be a sad state of affairs for the whole shed if or when this happens

The answer is something like this as I see it....( from personal experience)
Like any modern marriage these day where lots of money are involved and this is what this will be about.
The divorce is worked out before the marriage so there is lesser of a problem when the #$%^ hits the fan.
So if somebody does not agree with the divorce arrangements or abide by them,, there do not use the shop tools or there out.

My two cents worth.

It is a pointless argument because every single person contributing to this thread has a different level of expectation on safety. Safety perfection is an impossible dream and I have yet to see it achieved even on the best of work places where accidents still occur after the most intense training imaginable. I had a visitor in my workshop recently who was looking at my dust extraction system and he asked me to join the local Men's Shed and he could not understand the reasons for my refusal which basically revolved around the committee system of management. Every MS I have helped with DE the decision making was just laughable from a good management perspective. The simplist decision can take months to be finalised.

Originally Posted by rusel

Bob you are pushing #$%^ uphill with a small stick by you going in and barking at them for all the reason that have been already mention in this thread..alway done it this way ..you do tell me what to do.. just do care about themself or others...or just don't get it.

I go in to the shed about once a week to do a specific task or two and stay no longer than is needed to perform that task. Last week it was to take some photos of old gear being advertised on Gumtree. Other times it has been to pick up something that needed repairing or drop something off that had been repaired. I never say a thing about safety or comment on the way things are.

I joined a mens shed because I thought I could help and that is still why I stay involved. My involvement with mens sheds has started to spread to other shed by helping them with their dust extraction problems. It's not like out shed is special - I see similar safety issues other sheds as well.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

It is a pointless argument because every single person contributing to this thread has a different level of expectation on safety. Safety perfection is an impossible dream and I have yet to see it achieved even on the best of work places where accidents still occur after the most intense training imaginable. I had a visitor in my workshop recently who was looking at my dust extraction system and he asked me to join the local Men's Shed and he could not understand the reasons for my refusal which basically revolved around the committee system of management. Every MS I have helped with DE the decision making was just laughable from a good management perspective. The simplist decision can take months to be finalised.

I agree they are usually super slow at doing most things but we should remember are not a business and more of a volunteer mental health club although I'd say my shed has probably overall harmed rather than helped my mental health .

Some are better than others at organising themselves. At one end of the scale I have had emails from a mens shed on a Friday night asking me for comment on a proposal for funding for a dust extractor system that is due to be submitted on the following Monday morning. Some expect a lot of help and advice for no cost recompense while others have been quite generous. I don't charge anything for metro sheds and only charge for travel costs and accommodation costs to country sheds. Only about half take on board everything I tell them about and about half of them implement my recommendations in a half arsed manner but that doesn't worry me - free advice means no obligation and i make that clear right up front