Making Fun of Australia

When we first arrived in Australia in November 2011, we were struck by the number of safety signs.  It was worse than the US, where fear of litigation means an abundance of signage. It seemed sometime a little common sense was lacking...

 

It's hard to see but there is a bright yellow hose where you might walk.

 

This was on the sidewalk downtown.  Only problem - you couldn't have workers above dropping tools on you because there was an overhead concrete awning...

 

I am not sure why Nailing Tools need a special sign. Perhaps a construction worker ran amok some day and now you have to have a sign to warn pedestrians to duck if they hear one going off.

 

 

The ramp to our dinghy dock. The danger was that 2 of the boards were slightly lower than their neighbors which might be a hazard if you were in say high heels and drunk.

 

 

It's important to have these little reminders for those that missed out learning them in childhood.

This was a 2m high little reminder in a busy downtown pedestrian mall.  With no cars.

And of course, if you are a passenger on a ferry and if the captain passes out, here's what to do.

 

If you can read this sign at the airport, it is likely you probably have seen an escalator before.  If not, won't the lift (elevator) be scarier?  Are you likely to have been on tons of elevators but no escalator?

 

 

In case you get umm, overly hot in the hot tub? 

 

 Not likely because the heat is only on from 4-8 pm.

 

 

 

You have to protect the post.   Mere caution tape is not enough.

 

And you have to protect your barbed wire fence too:

 

In Brisbane, certain types of fencing materials are not permitted if the fences adjoin public property such as parks, reserves, roads, footpaths and waterways

Hazardous fencing material

Barbed wire is only permitted in industrial and rural areas. The barbed wired must not endanger people using the adjacent public land.

Razor wire, tiger wire and other materials which could cause harm to people or animals is only permitted in industrial areas. Use of these materials must comply with the Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law 2009.

In industrial areas, the hazardous fencing materials must be:

• at least two metres above ground level; or
• separated from publicly accessible areas by a barrier

 So if you have a barbed wire fence to protect your property and it's less than 2m high, you need another fence to protect the criminals from getting to it.  I found this out on a project where I wanted to rent some temporary fencing around a small ship we were working on.

 

 

The sidewalk was actually fine.  Just a bit muddy on the adjacent grass. So take up half the sidewalk with safety rope and pylons.

 

I love rule 2 - can't have the kids running in the park near the dangerous duck pond.

Maybe this is one reason why they need so many safety signs.

 

 

Check the Friday PM and Saturday hours.  Don't want to interfere with your weekend too much. (this is a paint store)

 

Our daughter's school has it's own wine for school dances and similar events.  Another contributing factor?