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Red zone workers told to cover up

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Red zone workers told to cover up

3News NZ

T-shirts would be a no-no under the new rules

T-shirts would be a no-no under the new rules

Workers in Christchurch's central city red zone may not be able to wear shorts or T-shirts to work next year under proposed new minimum safety requirements.

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) is proposing new guidelines that would require workers to wear "long pants, hard hats, long-sleeved tops, gloves, protective boots and eyewear".

The requirements are designed to protect workers from skin cancer, as well as help prevent "burns, abrasions, contact with cement, concrete, diesel and other chemicals", The Press reports.

However, Brayden Sullivan, a stonemason working in the red zone, says he was outraged when his boss told him about the changes.

Mr Sullivan said workers would overheat if they had to cover their arms and legs.

"Everybody is quite upset about it."

He said workers were willing to wear sunscreen and he didn't think the guidelines would protect from scratches.

"We're not against safety at all, but this doesn't make any practical sense," Mr Sullivan said.

A CERA spokeswoman said consultation on the guidelines is underway and no formal decisions have yet been made.

NZN

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Comments

12/01/2013 3:23:36 p.m.

Frank wrote:

I've worked in the roading industry for 30 years. And in this time there has been great changes for the better , beneficial to eveybody in this sector ( a much needed upgrade such as; PPE (protective personal equippment ) hardhat, goggles, gloves, steelcap boots, hearing protection and high visibility clothing. I totally agree 110% with the previously metioned; but please, making someone wear long sleeves and pants with the possiblity of heat exauhstion, heat stroke, sweating all day under your clothes, not to mention having to put up with othe peoples body odours. We are men and women; not children and as such, are able to make informed decisions as to whether or not we need to cover our bodies from the sun. Try pouring 40 cubic m of concerete or laying kerb blocks in the sun with the requirments they are asking of us; its rediculous. I agree we have the right to work in a environment that we feel safe in, and the only one who can judge that is the individual. When you're cold you put a warm top on, when you're hot you take it off; simple dont you think? Does a runner/jogger wear longs and a jersey when he goes for a run in summer? Does an Eskimoe put on shorts and a t-shirt if he's in a snow blizzard? How stupid do people who make up these rules think we are? Not to mention the waste of money and resources to pay for the attire and to enforce the wearing of it. What I'm realy ticked off with is how is someone able to tell a grown man or woman how to dress before he or she goes to work? Here I was thinking dictatorship was dead and burried. Health and Safety Employment Act 1992; Is this meant for the health and safety of individuals? How can this be when the powers to be enforce individuals to cover up head to toe in the heat of summer. Is this looking after "everybodies" safety? At the end of the day I believe the individual has the right to decide the appropriate attire to wear at work depending on weather conditions.

1/12/2012 5:55:41 p.m.

Ben wrote:

I remember the lyrics of an old song by Cat Stevens. "Will you tell me when to live . . . will you tell me when to die." Sounds like someone needs to feel more powerful so what better way than to dictate what to wear. They've tried a few things like this in the States only to find all the workers walked off. No workers . . . no building. No building . . . one ugly messed up Christchurch.

29/11/2012 11:47:50 p.m.

keith wrote:

Dose the sun come out long enough in christchurch to warrant covering up workin on mine site north Qld yeap was bit of shock to wear long sleave shirts hard hat glasses and trou but u get used to it bosses only covering the arses wait to JSAs Permitt to work Tool box meetins become the norm lets face it main aim is to be able to go home in same if not better condition that we went to work in

29/11/2012 10:16:15 p.m.

PJ wrote:

Theres already a few sites like this in Auckland, kiwirail mainly at the minute. They spec t-shirts that cover to the elbow, so not as bad as full length sleeves. Ive worked in Perth and in Auckland both under these conditions, and can say for sure that NZ is worse, soley because of the humidity. Clothes are totally stuck to the body and sweat has no way of escaping, ridiculously uncomfortable, as well as safety glasses constantly fogging up to add to the annoyance.
I would rather see a requirement to apply spf30+ twice a day at least, ie, everyone applies it at toolbox talk in the morn, and again at smoko
Viva la stubbies & singlet!

29/11/2012 6:59:22 p.m.

shane wrote:

All you guys refering to Aus mines, yes I would expect to wear full cover because its a mine with extreme risks, and armed forces yes because there are people trying ti kill you so it is PRACTICLE SAFETY where as builders doing the average build it is not practicle.A nd in the roading sector we wear long pants laying asphalt as there is a risk of burning your legs but do not currently wear long sleves as there is very very minor chance of a minor burn. You see practicle and impracticle and if you say it is a skin cancer concern then then we best change the law and make it illegal to go outside unless fully covered no better yet make shorts skirts tshirts etc illegal to import or manufacture

29/11/2012 1:53:41 p.m.

Peter Ross wrote:

So when workers start falling over with the excess caused by excessive safety clothing, are they going to cause more of a problem? I had an asphalt company and can tell you from experience that is exactly where the problems will come from. What a bunch of bureaucratic dipsticks.

29/11/2012 1:32:54 p.m.

Michael wrote:

To often I have seen people dead on the side of the road simply because they took their clothes of when it was hot...i work in and around mine sites in western Australia and we cover up the whole day the safest thing you can do is cover up on hot days and we work in up to 48c for weeks on end so grow up and cover up.....

29/11/2012 12:53:27 p.m.

Alex wrote:

Sure, sounds safe enough. People will just pass out from heat exhaustion instead. Smart move guys...

29/11/2012 12:02:39 p.m.

Hamish wrote:

You guys are seriously trying to say this is going to cause problems with overheating? Stop being so childish and just grow a pair. As some have already said that it is common practice in Australia already. What about kiwi soldiers in places like Afghanistan? They have to wear long clothes (OH NO!) along with ballistic vests, Kevlar helmets and combat vests carrying ammunition and water. So don't even think for a moment you will have problems with "over heating" because if you do, It is just because of your own inability to keep yourself properly hydrated.

29/11/2012 11:05:12 a.m.

madness wrote:

Yep they all have to dress like that in the mines in 45 degrees heat and they just toughen up and get on with it because they want the job. Its a choice situation. Stay in the job and od it or find a different one.