Traffic policemen worried about health and safety

Peter Bonnici

Nov 26th 2009, 19:35

I would have thought that a Policeman, more than anyone else, would know the dangers of driving on wet roads, and especially downhill (if this was the case).
Having said that I see policemen on bikes riding next to eachother and chatting, both a dangerous and illegal practice.

adrian aquilina

Nov 26th 2009, 17:20

never seen traffic police..would have though if we had traffic police the roads would be safer and people would drive properly....

Anthony Falzon

Nov 26th 2009, 15:27

Does that mean that we still have traffic polce on motorcycles patroling our roads? I thought they only show themselves when escorting the president and on some roundabouts during the morning rush hour. With all due respect, maybe now they know what it's like to risk your live on our roads because they, the police, are not capable of installing some dicipline on the way we drive.

Charles Sammut

Nov 26th 2009, 14:36

It's no use removing the cobwebs without killing the spiders. It is the poor roads surface that is to blame in the first place. PC Pisani should sue the ADT over his accident. Of course protective clothing should be de rigeur, but preventing the accident comes first, prevention is better than cure.

One other health and safety issue for all motorcyclists and not just police ones, concerns the vast amounts of noxious fumes produce by buses, trucks and poorly maintained cars. In a car you can protect yourself to a certain degree by closing windows and vents, but on a motorcycle you have to breathe in all the carcinogens.

Aslater

Nov 26th 2009, 12:38

In this case , a motorbike provided by the Police Force, needs to comply with Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The motorbike constitutes a 'workplace' while used for work purposes and must provide the driver with a safe place of work.

Therefore, by not issuing the necessary protecive clothing, the Police are not complying and should be subject to the relative charges.

This is that same thing as if a factory worker is injured because he/she is not issued with safety boots/, safety glasses etc.

L.Desira

Nov 26th 2009, 11:51

Has anyone questioned the way in which they ride their bikes? Authority makes people feel powerful, and sometimes people tend to abuse their power.

p.s. I am NOT talking about Constable Emanuel Pisani as such, I am referring to other traffic policemen that I see whilst driving.

r cutajar

Nov 26th 2009, 11:36

Two notoriously dangerouse section of roads are mentioned .
For God's sake could not the Association of Insurances roll up its sleeves and channel these high roads' and others' liabilities .? May be It is also oppurtune to get experts' advice to submit the proper conclusions.
These are all liabilities which unfortunately not even the country really realizes how much all this is costing the country!

G. Fenech

Nov 26th 2009, 11:19

As a fellow motorcyclist, i agree that all policemen on motorbikes be given adequate protective gear. Lets face it, the roads will never get better because of the corruption and pocketing of money / giving contracts to the usual suspects.

Anyone riding a motorbike often should make sure that he/she is wearing the right protective gear. A simple helmet is just not enough. And if our traffic police are asking for high quality protective gear to be safe on our streets, rain or shine, then i think they deserve them.

If they cant protect themselves, they surely cant protect us!

Stephen Forster

Nov 26th 2009, 11:14

Govenment or Police Commissioner has a duty of care enshrined in European law
The courts have held that the provisions of European Directives are directly enforceable against the State (Marshall v.Southampton and South-West Hampshire Area Health Authority [1986] IRLR 140) and against 'emanations' of the State (Foster v. British Gas plc (C188/89) [1991] ICR 84 ECJ and [1991] I.C.R. 463, HL). An organisation is an emanation of the State if it provides a public service, is under the control of the State or has special powers exceeding those of private individuals. This doctrine is based on the reasoning that it would be unfair for a Member State to benefit from its own failure to implement or fully implement a directive. The effect of these cases is, broadly, that employers in the public sector are directly subject to the terms of EU Directives. In ensuring legal compliance they therefore need to have regard to the terms of those directives, it should also be remembered that a public sector employer's obligations under a directive will arise when it is adopted by the EU.

Karl Abela

Nov 26th 2009, 10:49

Thanks to some cowboys who drive heavy vehicles, the few new roads that we have are already ruined by huge earth movers with chain wheels, spilt concrete by abusive concrete mixer trucks, diesel and oil spills, huge chunks of mud flying all over the place from trucks who have just come out of excavation sites....

Is there a law above these people at all??? Can it be enforced with stiff penalties? These people are wealthy so EUR100 fines dont work!!

D. A . Agius

Nov 26th 2009, 10:41

Please do not comment on the Polcie Force as it's Administration does not like to be criticised. Anyway, criticism is followed up by the Administration as much as you would follow a fly passing in front of your face.

In the meantime I'll keep my black tie on the ready. Judging by the ignorance and inefficiency of this administration, it won't be long until I'll have to attend a funeral. On the day, we will definitely say then that BLOOD is on the Administration's hands.

Hope you get well soon Dear Constable, unfortunately it will mean you would be returning back to one of the worst Employees who seem to rank as the highest offenders in Health and Safety.

Joseph E Briffa

Nov 26th 2009, 10:29

i fail to understand why the Times was informed by the Police that the status of the acquisition of protective and safety equipment is not in the public interest. Surely this is not a state secret. The public has a right to know whether the police officers' security and safety are being safeguarded in much the same way that the public's mind has to be put at rest that their (public's) safety and security are being safeguarded by the Police. I believe that the two issues are interconnected. The police are our friends, they help us and we are in duty bound to help them. It's obvious that police officers if well equipped are able to carry out their duties more efficiently and safely and are bound to be more successful in fighting crime.

T Pace

Nov 26th 2009, 10:22

I think we are talking of much more than 200 Euros here if considering a full protective kit of considerable quality! Nevertheless I would purchase my own and and risk the penalties! My question is how come the Health and Safety Authorities and ADT do not get involved with this matter?? I also find it hard to understand how the unions have not taken up this issue? Everyone is always ready to point fingers at the police force, all considered I think they do a good job, though with the right incentives (coming from above) and resources they could be doing a much better job. This is the case with practically every government institution and authority, seems like Malta these days is only bothered about meeting the minimal requirements of any EU directive anything aside and above is considered a waste of time and resources. Its a pity as this was not our mentality in the past and in areas where we used to excell we are now doing very poorly.

James Green

Nov 26th 2009, 10:10

I hope that Officer Pisani gets well soon.
Traffic police should have appropriate protective attire as a matter of principle.
Two traffic police skids leading to serious injuries in one year do not augur well.
These are trained motorcyclists and both seem to have skidded on wet roads.
When will it dawn on whoever is responsable that our so called roads are not a patch on what they should be?
It-Telgħa t'Alla w Ommu has become a veritable concrete fungus jungle with nobody bothering to remove the contamination nor attempting to prevent its further spread.

Let's all offer a prayer for the road maintenence department (and come to think of it, for the road construction one too).

JAFarrugia

Nov 26th 2009, 09:57

I agree that for winter use they should have the correct leather gear, however i highly think they would want to wear leather jackets/trousers in august.

FIX THE ROADS and this wouldnt happen.

As for the last comment in this article, typical arrogance from certain police members, time for an overhaul from top to bottom, together with some customer service courses and a trip to foreign forces to see how to do a proper job.

GMICALLEF

Nov 26th 2009, 09:50

@ A.Jones...if you bought the gear yourself & wore it to work, you would be penalized for wearing an item which was not part of the uniform!!!! meaning the 200euros would have been wasted..

Paul micallef

Nov 26th 2009, 09:30

All adequte equipment should be provided to our Police force, i hope that they are not going to be STINGY (qammilien), as look at the English forces, because their goverment just wants to send personel to please the US, and then they cannot supply them with the equipment that they need to defend themselves, to fight against terrorisim, they are coming back in body bags.
So please make sure that these people that are risking their lives to keep the roads safe are adequatly protected.

Vince DeBono

Nov 26th 2009, 09:25

Where are policemen deployed? What weapons do they carry? What crime detection analysis is the Police Force weak in? THESE QUESTIONS, if answered would be of intelligence value to criminals.

Wanting to protect the safety and lives of the Police Force members is in the interest of law-abiding citizens or the press. This officer means one less policeman on the road. It is not in MY interest.

If there is a public tender for the purchase of such equipment, one cannot give details of the adjudication process. One CAN say - eg tender no aaaaa has been issued on xx/yy/zzzz and is now in the ???????? stage. One can say the equipment was ordered on xx/yy/zzzz and will arrive on etc etc. A departmental tender or quotation will be in the Government Gazette. This is not secret classified equipment that we are talking about.

Was there a tender, by the way?

I M Dingli

Nov 26th 2009, 09:16

It's not the protective equipment on its own but the quality of our tarmac too especially in wet conditions.

A. Jones

Nov 26th 2009, 08:49

Fully agree that they should be given the kit to do their job, including riding armour!!

Although if it was me i would buy my own riding armour untill the police provided me with some. I would trade €200 of my money to save broken shins/other injuries, any day!