Resignation of BCA Legal & Insurance Officer

[nickwilliams]

@ fredthedog

No it won't be forgotten, but we have other priorities and limited resources right now.

 

[fredthedog]

Thanks, Nick, that's reassuring. I very much appreciate what you and the other volunteers do, and fully accept that time is finite.

 

[droid]

But who are 'others'?

Can't we be told?

 

[SamT]

deleted, think I got the wrong end of a stick...

 

[G. Hardwick]

I am sure that Bob did not intend his post to UKCaving to become a source of intrigue. I suspect it was simply that Bob saw this as a way of ensuring that he would not be persuaded to reverse his decision.

Now that's a subtle way of getting a message across.

 

[NewStuff]

The HSE does not care about stuff done by a handful (in relative terms) of people in a non-professional, non-commercial hobby activity.

Mine Explorers have zero issues highlighting that CO2, amongst other things, can be problematic to your expectation of continued breathing. I've yet to hear of anyone hassled by the HSE as a result of warning and informing people. Why on earth would Cavers be singled out?

You're doing the HSE's job (reducing risk) by informing people of the risks, signs and how to manage them.

 

[royfellows]

The HSE does not care about stuff done by a handful (in relative terms) of people in a non-professional, non-commercial hobby activity.

HM Mines Inspectorate comes under HSE, and we are all aware of 'situations' that arose in the north Pennines.
Having said that I read Bobs paper and could see nothing wrong with it, but that is my own individual perception. We can all see things differently.

 

[NewStuff]

I think we're on the same page Roy. I'm all for Bob's paper being published, the more information we can give people that can help them, the better. It's up to them should they choose to learn from that information, you can't force people to learn.

HM Mines Inspectorate comes under HSE, and we are all aware of 'situations' that arose in the north Pennines.

Indeed, but were they not classed as commercial concerns, despite some protestations, hence the HSE/Mine Inspectorate's interest?

Your average caver/mine explorer doing it as a hobby? It's not even on their radar, they're not interested.

 

[Ship-badger]

Nick did say

"in particular how these may affect the activities of those who work in caves"

so the HSE might be interested.

I remember that concerns over the exposure of caving instructors to radon gas lead to some centres outsourcing all their caving work.

 

[royfellows]

Indeed, but were they not classed as commercial concerns, despite some protestations, hence the HSE/Mine Inspectorate's interest?

I dont believe so, it is just a hobby centred around 2 people. The Mine Inspectorate interest is said (hearsay) to have been aroused as a result of a complaint.

I wont say on here 'who' and 'where' but we both know. I have been in there several times, nothing commercial about it. Interesting old place.

 

[SamT]

So what about instructors who "Work" by taking paying clients (school kids?) down "Mines" that may or may not be subject to higher levels of CO2.

I can think of some examples. 

 

[al]

Sam - Looking at the mines which are regularly inspected for PICA and have approved access routes for groups led by LCMLA leaders, I am unaware of any regular or specific CO2 issues. I would be interested to hear about any that do - either PM me, or email gasman@thedca.org.uk.

 

[rhychydwr1]

Are we going off topic?

Surely we should have a whip round for a retirement present,  A gold watch for the many years of faithful service?

 

[droid]

By the time the BCA has finished paying for ballots he'll be lucky to get a plastic Casio....