Day 127 - 23 May 95 - Page 40


     
     1        two.  So there would have been somebody on site with that
     2        information, but we certainly felt after this accident that
     3        we needed to make sure that every shift manager knew
     4        exactly what to do.
     5
     6   Q.   Do the restaurants all have access to outside independent
     7        electrical contractors?
     8        A.  They do, which is controlled by the facilities engineer
     9        like Frank Frost, who makes sure they are properly
    10        qualified.
    11
    12   Q.   Then you write, "We aim to train all salaried managers in
    13        first aid.  We are approximately 50 per cent of the way in
    14        meeting this objective."  How far are you now as at 1995?
    15        A.  80 to 90 per cent.
    16
    17   Q.   "By law we are required to have at least one first aider on
    18        shift at all times.  We do not train floor managers in
    19        first aid.  There is an additional problem that if it is
    20        the first aider who is seriously injured, who then gives
    21        first aid?"  Is there anything you have been able to do
    22        about that?
    23        A.  Yes.  Floor managers are now -- our shift running floor
    24        managers are given full first aid training as part of that,
    25        and also we are teaching a one day first aid course to
    26        dining area staff, which means, of course, obviously they
    27        are there with the customers so they are on hand should
    28        there be an accident.  But it also makes sure that there
    29        are other people in the restaurants that can apply first
    30        aid in the unusual circumstance that it is the first aider
    31        that should be injured.
    32
    33   Q.   What sort of people would they be?
    34        A.  The dining area hostesses.
    35
    36   Q.   So then she would be on hand if a customer was injured?
    37        A.  Yes, that is right.
    38
    39   Q.   What changes, if any, did you make in the actual training
    40        of personnel about electricity?
    41        A.  Well, the route we decided to take was to restrict even
    42        further the electrical work that they -- the equipment
    43        works they could do.  As we discussed previously, we had
    44        already said that nobody could do any equipment maintenance
    45        unless they had been on the advanced equipment course.  But
    46        at this stage we basically restricted any equipment work to
    47        changing a 13 amp plug, but at the same time instituted a
    48        programme of bringing in moulded plugs.  So these days
    49        there is very, very little need at all for managers to do
    50        any electrical work whatsoever. 
    51 
    52   Q.   I suppose you have a choice, do you not?  You can either 
    53        choose to train many people fully with electricity, so that
    54        whatever happens they are competent to deal with it, or
    55        else you can give them little or no training and forbid
    56        them to fiddle with the electrical equipment?
    57        A.  Yes.  The way that all safety professionals would
    58        approach this is to eliminate the risk if possible.
    59
    60   Q.   How is that done?

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