Thursday 8 October 2009

Rules Is Rules...

One onlooker said: "The paramedic wouldn't treat him.

Two colleagues arrived in an ambulance but he stood in their way and told them, 'I'm incident commander - you aren't getting into the water.'
The depth of water? Six inches...
An ambulance service spokesman said fire crews were trained for water rescues and added: "The incident was managed in accordance with procedures."
I'm not sure six inches counts as a 'water rescue'.

On the other hand, if it does, I performed a water rescue this morning on my car keys when I dropped them in a puddle...

Still, this looks to become more widespread in the future:
The Health and Safety Executive caused outrage by declaring that officers confronted with dangerous situations -while fighting crime or trying to guard the public 'may choose not to put themselves at unreasonable risk'.

Its guidance published yesterday firmly plays down the need for officers to show bravery in the course of their duty if they make a 'personal choice' not to.
If this becomes widespread, then perhaps we should review their payscales accordingly?

7 comments:

Letters From A Tory said...

When personal judgement gets replaced by box ticking and top-down rules, these situations become an inevitability.

AntiCitizenOne said...

Julia, I've posted on NDS.

JuliaM said...

"When personal judgement gets replaced by box ticking and top-down rules, these situations become an inevitability."

Agreed, but it sticks in the craw when, come pay bargaining time, they use 'the vital, brave job we do' as an excuse for heafty rises.

"Julia, I've posted on NDS."

Ta!

Mac the Knife said...

"On the other hand, if it does, I performed a water rescue this morning on my car keys when I dropped them in a puddle..."

Mac the Knife threw down his pen and transferred the cigar from one side of his mouth to the other.

"God fucking dammit Julia! How many times do we have to have this same friggin' conversation?".

"Jesus Mac, what was I gonna do? Another thirty seconds and the batteries for the centrsl locking woulda been screwed"

"You just don't get it do ya?"

Mac stood up, and looked through the grimy glass over the mean streets of Aylesham,

"Every time you use free will and common sense, my goddam paperwork backs up for six months...",

He turned back, his jowly face reflecting his distaste for the job he had to do,

"You're a hell of a blogger J, but you're a loose cannon. Car keys today, but what's next? Rescuing a lost kitten? Taking in a parcel for a neighbour? You're out of control",

"Someone has to take a stand Mac"

"Yeah, but it won't be you, I'm re-assigning you to community outreach. Pick up your bubble-wrap suit and get all the sharp corners planed off your furniture by tomorrow".

Julia left the office in tight-lipped silence. She might be on community outreach tomorrow, but tonight those grass-clippings needed raking. And she was just the girl to do it.

Joe Public said...

"'may choose not to put themselves at unreasonable risk'."

I read a driver got killed on the road, driving to work.

I carried out a Risk Assessment.

I then decided it was too risky to go to work.

David Gillies said...

I wonder if the bystanders, after rescuing the injured guy, had given the jobsworth an almighty kicking, it would have improved his attitude? The real problem with these people is they never suffer any fallout.

JuliaM said...

"I then decided it was too risky to go to work."

Heh! Ahh, if only...

"The real problem with these people is they never suffer any fallout."

Indeed. A 'name and shame' would be a start.