metal wood splitting wedges

[thatsnotafestool]

Told by my local industrial type outdoor equioment supplier that HS&E have banned these because of the risk of metal splinters coming off.

As I've run out of HS&E staff in trying to split open my logs (they don't make their heads strong enough these days), I'm sure that these metal splitting wedges are still available somewhere??

[Alf]

D'you mean like this?

Cheers, Alf

[andy]

Or this

[thatsnotafestool]

Insert 'extremely embarassed'emoticon here.

Now why didn't I think of them ?

Thanks folks.

[andy]

thatsnotafestool said:

Told by my local industrial type outdoor equipment supplier that HS&E have banned these because of the risk of metal splinters coming off

No real difference to a Bolster chisel or have they banned those also

Next it will be nails

[mrgrimsdale]

No it'll just be the usual anti HSE b***x coming from the Daily Mail and similar sources.
There's a story going around that pancake races have been banned cos of health & safety issues - just another bit of tedious nonsense! People seem to like having a good moan about things.
On the other hand I've been looking at window cleaning and the good news is that, because of HSE issues and ladders, there is now a big range of pole and pressurised water kit available which makes window cleaning not only much safer but actually quicker and easier.

cheers
Jacob

[engineerone]

it seems that to listen to the hse, they never ban anything,
however it always gets blamed on them.

in my recent experience it is in fact the insurance companies which are causing the problems, rather than take the risk they are paid for they make additions to the policy which makes it impossible to use and sell older type tools.

difficult to see how a metal splitter going into wood is going to produce metal splinters does not make any sense

obviously your supplier has had a recent claim, and been told to sharpen up on things, but what really happens is that he loses more and more of your business cause you feel he lied to you.

paul

[jfc]

I have a metal wedge log splitter with a wooden handle , i'm sure Axe minster sell them

[jimw]

As Jacob & Paul have said you need to stop reading the daily mail

Tis true HSE rarely ban things; actually you could have worked this one out yourself. If metal wedges were banned logic suggests any metal tool you strike with a hammer would be banned too and the construction industry would grind to a halt.

To be practical (assuming you value your eyes) it makes sense to wear some light eye protection whenever you are walloping anything metal - just in case.

[jimw]

Regards the comment about ladders:

Again they ain't banned. The HSE are just pointing out that every year too many people fall off the damn things and bust their backs (stop & think of the consequences of that).

So..... its a good idea to consider alternatives, such as Jacob describes for window cleaning.

[engineerone]

jim, although ladders are not banned, for window cleaning above a certain height they are, but an eu edict not uk hse

paul

[jake]

engineerone said:

jim, although ladders are not banned, for window cleaning above a certain height they are, but an eu edict not uk hse

paul

It is a UK regulation, which is the UK's interpretation of the EU Directive.

www.hse.gov.uk/press/2005/e05110.htm