Sunday, August 16, 2009
Bicycle Helmets are Coming.
I heard from one of our safety people that in the very near future, LLNS will be purchasing a bicycle helmet for anyone who wants to ride a lab owned bicycle on site. It looks like you'll have to take a class, then get fitted for a helmet. The bicycles will all be posted that helmets are required and the special lab law (CA DOT does not require anyone over 18 to wear a bicycle helmet) will be strictly enforced . . .
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16 comments:
Please do us ALL a favor if this is true. Please take ALL bikes off site and get rid of them for good. We don't need anymore BS classes and regulations. We are already up to our asses in required classes which are nohting more then CYI to protect ULM.. Please, please, please take all the bikes off LLNL property. Can we get this done by Monday morning 8/17/09 ?
And how much money is going to be wasted by all this?
Are they going to keep the bikes in better shape too? Or is this just an excuse to let cars onsite zip around faster?
Predicting they'll mandate armored suits for pedestrians next. But only if lab-designed and paid for by the individual.
What I heard was that helmets will be made available as optional safety equipment.
I'd rather see optional or even mandatory helmets instead of having the bikes simply go away, which is another alternative.
When will LLNS start requiring the potty hygiene training classes?
The bicycles will all be posted that helmets are required and the special lab law (CA DOT does not require anyone over 18 to wear a bicycle helmet) will be strictly enforced . . . -- Aren't most of us over 18 therefore we do not need a helmet. So why the class and who personally gives a rats butt about this anyway? LLNS, will you please leave all of us alone you blankblank
Note from scooby: no name calling please!
August 16, 2009 2:06 PM
Just remove all bikes on-site now. Most of them are junk anyway and in very bad shape. It may take longer to get from point A to point B but who cares, it's only a matter of time before your number comes up anyway.
1. If you ride a lab bike, would you be required to wear a lab issued bike helmet, or could you wear your own.
2. Will there be a sanitizer station available to clean out helmet user from the previous user of the shared lab supplied helmets.
3. If you bring your own bike onto lab property are you required to use a helmet (yours or lab supplied).
If there is going to be the decree that there will no longer be any accidents and LLNL I see two solutions:
1. Shut the place down. Can Bechtel still get money for running this place if no one is here?
2. Send a retirement incentive my way. I'll go, with or without helmet.
When does the lab get to come to my house and pass safety rules? I've got power tools, chemicals, ladders and firearms. How I've managed to survive this long without a lab web class is beyond me.
PS. I do have my own bike helmet at the lab.
August 16, 2009 6:15 PM
No sanitizer - you'll be given your own helmet. No sharing unless you choose too (scary if you share)
You'll be able to wear your own helmet.
Don't care if you have power tools at home as long as you don't use them at LLNL.
No decree - accidents will still happen, LLNS is trying to limit their liability.
No helmet money for retirement.
The program is currently approved as voluntary. It is clear that some managers are pushing to make it mandatory, but they have not yet been successful.
As far as the cost goes, if the money weren't spent on helmets, it would go to NIF.
There are much better things to whine about than this. Helmets save lives. Helmets keep you from a brain injury. Whatever their actual motives may be, your employer is doing something good for you this time. They have the option to say that helmets are mandatory for bikes; bring your own. But instead they say we will even buy it for you. You are too accustomed to reacting with a complaint because of the history of screwing you have received from LLNS. This is nothing to complain about. It is not just being done to limit liability. Liability is already limited by the Workers Comp Act. Relax. Wear your helmet. Have a nice ride.
If you don't like the new rules, don't ride a bike. Who said you have a right to ride a bike on lab property? Its their road, they can make the rules.
I'll take the free helmet.
August 16, 2009 11:19 PM
What you say is true, but it is just more of the nanny state. I think the type of people that LLNL historically attracted had no need for such parental oversight. I certainly didn't, and don't now.
The worse part is that this consumes senior management attention when there are more important things to address at the Lab.
I'd bring my own. Don't trust the "substancially equivalent" one that LLNS would offer me.
Keep your helmet and remove the bikes from the site. A lot of people around here NEED to walk a lot more then they do now. If you haven't noticed plus some around here exceed the bikes weight limitations.
Honestly, all this "concern" for safety and now health crosses the line.
Sure some employees are out of shape. Some are disabled too. I rode a bike a lot on site because I have epilepsy and driving a car is out of the question. Riding a Lab bike gave me pretty good workout due to most having low tire pressure and misaligned steering. Add some lousy air quality and heat for extra sweat and pulse rate.
One of my former group leaders used to constantly harass me about my health. It was none of her business, I still managed to get my projects done and in high quality. If the Lab's management had left me alone and focused on real problems vs bogus meetings and so-called wellness and safety programs I would have gotten even more work done.
My suggestion to GM. Take a fraction of the helmet money and fix the bikes. Then leave us alone - we are grown-ups and can decide for ourselves what safety gear is appropriate when using a bicycle.
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