I have been thinking about this Tyre Truing Post ever since and I'd like to take a slightly sideways look at a point that came up in the discussion.
Health and Safety is an incredible rolling stone, in my opinion, going way too far and stultifying both business and fun in the process. But neither can we just ignore it - not in these days of casual litigation where 'someone' has to be blamed for everything that ever happens to some people.
I am thinking particularly about clubs, their premises and some of the activity that is likely to take place there. Tyre grinding or truing is an obvious one. Soldering is another. Possibility of fire risks or electrical accidents, battery power and its associated acid hazard and hydrogen emissions. I know it's rather depressing to think about, but maybe we need to consider it, at least a little.
The mental picture of a kid using a Dremel for tyre grinding was what made the possibility of a nasty accident rather vivid. My own version of this great little tool is capable of 27,000 rpm. That is plenty high enough to whip a little rubber tyre straight into your eye - or someone else's. Should just 'anyone' be allowed to use these powerful little tools without any training or supervison? Who is responsible if someone's kid slices his finger off with a rotary cutter - or damages someone else other than himself?
Sllghtly off topic, but associated - I understand that it may already be illegal to either buy or hire a chain-saw without some form of licence. Is this the thin end of the wedge - the start of a gradual trend towards banning power tools in general?
Just wondering if anyone else has thought about this and particularly whether clubs have had problems with accidents or thoughts on insuring against liability for them.
Health and Safety is an incredible rolling stone, in my opinion, going way too far and stultifying both business and fun in the process. But neither can we just ignore it - not in these days of casual litigation where 'someone' has to be blamed for everything that ever happens to some people.
I am thinking particularly about clubs, their premises and some of the activity that is likely to take place there. Tyre grinding or truing is an obvious one. Soldering is another. Possibility of fire risks or electrical accidents, battery power and its associated acid hazard and hydrogen emissions. I know it's rather depressing to think about, but maybe we need to consider it, at least a little.
The mental picture of a kid using a Dremel for tyre grinding was what made the possibility of a nasty accident rather vivid. My own version of this great little tool is capable of 27,000 rpm. That is plenty high enough to whip a little rubber tyre straight into your eye - or someone else's. Should just 'anyone' be allowed to use these powerful little tools without any training or supervison? Who is responsible if someone's kid slices his finger off with a rotary cutter - or damages someone else other than himself?

Sllghtly off topic, but associated - I understand that it may already be illegal to either buy or hire a chain-saw without some form of licence. Is this the thin end of the wedge - the start of a gradual trend towards banning power tools in general?

Just wondering if anyone else has thought about this and particularly whether clubs have had problems with accidents or thoughts on insuring against liability for them.