working hours on long production days

[slipstream]

The man accused of causing the deaths of 10 people in the Selby rail crash had "insufficient" sleep before setting off on his journey to work, a court heard today.

Prof Horne, professor of psychophysiology and director of the Sleep Research Centre at the university, said he was told that Hart had only had a short nap in the previous 24 hours.

He told the jury: "He had a nap the previous afternoon which I really don't think had much effect.

"I find it very difficult to see how he could have maintained alert driving for any period of time. Maybe that afternoon nap helped." But he added: "There is no doubt about it, it was insufficient."

The jury of seven women and five men has heard how Hart's Land Rover and trailer left the M62 near Great Heck and plunged down the embankment onto the East Coast mainline on February 28.

Moments later it was hit by a southbound GNER express train travelling at 117mph which then collided with a fully-laden coal train carrying 1,600 tonnes of coal.

Ten men - six commuters and four railway staff - lost their lives in the disaster.

 

Gary Hart was later found guilty of 10 counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Hart was sentenced to five years in prison.

 

Lets see you argue that 22 hours working and then driving a 7.5t back to base is safe - and in the AV world I see it often with hotel gigs - get in from 4am - rig - run show - strike - drive back to base.

 

No thanks - 5 years is way too much time to waste so the clients unreasonable budget and requirements can meet in the middle.

[David Lee]

And as a freelancer/ self employed it is entirely you that is responsible. Don't do long silly hours then drive home, you'll end up killing someone.

[Stewart Newlands]

Take a look at this old topic for some court cases regarding long hours and driving afterwards etc...

 

http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=13166&st=55

[jacethebase]

I always try and get a nights sleep after a long day before the drive home. Even if its a get my self to a service station for a shower then sleep in the car for a few hours. The roads a dangerous place....

[kerry davies]

Just a thought regarding the proposed easing of the WTD by the coalition government, much in the news this week.

 

Whatever bodge they finally decide upon will make not a bladders difference to the law on safety and the need to "be adequately prepared" to complete work safely. This means rested, fed, hydrated, trained and competent so exceedingly long shifts would still be seen as hazardous.

[andy jackson]

Like most others I feel quite strongly about this, not because I frequently have to do 22 hour days but because I have worked with those who do.

 

I think BECTU et al need to do some campaigning about it, it also needs to be introduced into the sylabuses at Colleges and University under Health and Safety as well as Personal and Business Mmanagement modules.

 

Unless as a profession we say 'enough is enough' nothing will happen, sadly it may take a couple (more) deaths for people to realise.

 

Andy

[indyld]

... it also needs to be introduced into the sylabuses at Colleges and University under Health and Safety as well as Personal and Business Mmanagement modules.

 

 

I think you'll find it already is, in many cases. While HE courses should prepare students for an industry that expects hard work, it's an old fashioned attitude that "we work long hours, end of."

 

This is then perpetuated by industry bods that like to proclaim how everyone should do what they did and work 36 hours without turning a hair. Young people get into this mindset themselves and to counteract this, we are constantly promoting better preparation and more efficient process, rather than doggedly dragging things out until midnight every night so you can feel big.

 

On any industry course worth anything, students also get a good grounding in H&S, scheduling and the WTD and their rights/responsibilities as either employees or as a self employed subcontractor.

 

Your point is key, though. As an industry, the culture needs to be changed from within and I feel that it is happening steadily.

 

The education of the next generation is part of that, but the industry needs to lead by example and old skool attitudes to working hours should not be passed on.