QUESTION FOR THE OR ( I'd suspect) blokes on here. Which department polices interference with BT plant.  Locally our LA has contracted a firm to replace fascias/soffits/ barge boards and rainwater items. I've seen no mention of OR/BT attending locally to temporarily remove dropwire from buildings to allow for this replacement. I have seen on one house close by ,that is being worked on, that the dropwire has been removed from the hose and tied around scaffolding, and the span from DP to house sags in the wind like auntie's knitting. Apart from the danger to person removing the dropwire ( under tension) , there is additional fault liability and if the line comes loose from scaffolding, potential for dropwire to end up breaking free from the cleats securing it to the building and dropping low across the road posing a severe threat to cyclists & motorcyclists.

Added to this, I can see future problems if dropwire not re instated correctly. I've already seen this firm in action as they had the contract to replace the windows in this road. After we cleaned up after them ( dust sheets were not high on the agenda, and the brush manual had been lost) , we found a lot of poor workmanship, and a lot of spur marks on the woodwork, as the transport was a Horse . ( Spurs for those in doubt- as worn by Cowboys) . Then we got drafts from poor sealing of the windows.

Elf and safety issue might prompt more of a response from your Council and then lead to BT involvement.

I've made local council surveyor aware of elf & safety issues. I've also had words with PR, but it's now a piggy in middle situation. I can't do anything till I get a fault, caused by cowboy negligence. I report fault to my provider, who contacts BT, THEN or, and mean time I'm without BB & PHONE.

10 hours ago, VWD said:

 I can't do anything till I get a fault, caused by cowboy negligence. I report fault to my provider, who contacts BT, THEN or, and mean time I'm without BB & PHONE.

Or fit one of these Archer MR200- then when the phone line goes down it will switch over to a mobile connection.

We get 55Mbps from BT and this gives us a 20Mbps backup connection - and with a VoIP phone connected we can still make phone calls too.

Not sure if the same over there,but here - "thou shalt not anchor anything to a scaffold " would cover this as a breach of working at heights HSA regulations. In effect the contractor is in breach for letting anyone work from the scaffold as it isnt compliant until the fault (tied off cable) is removed and the entire scaffold's integrity has been inspected and tagged safe (has to be done every 7days anyway).

 

Report it directly to your HSA (Health and Safety Authority) iirc HSE? As a dangerous work practice. Skip the LA or contractor.

Edited 15 May, 20188 yr by mac11irl

Thanks, Mac- it's not just a breach of HSE, but a breach of law. NO ONE is allowed ,by law in the UK, to interfere ,with a BT line up to the point of the NTTP.

So that's two points of failure.

Twice I've tried understanding this thread (starting with the title) and I've just given up due to the overly complicated structure caused by too many acronyms.

standard ACRONYMS, rUSTY , and others understand them .BUT,to make itb easier -BT=British Telecom. OR=Openreach . Plant =any equipment used by OR /BT ( e.g. wires/poles/ cables ,either OG(=OVERHEAD, as in running between poles ) or UG (=UNDERGROUND as run in ducts under the road/pavement. ( or in some cases, under grass verges).

However, the fact that you didn't understand it meant that you possibly would not know about the requirements and qualifications required to work on BT/OR PLANT.

iT'S QUITE SIMPLE- only BT and OR staff and contractors authorised by BT/OR are legally authorised to work on circuits/plant up to the NTP( NETWORK TERMINATING POINT -in domestic premises this is the BT master socket. ( With the exception, I believe of inserting Broadband in a seperate equipment room at the excgange).

My query was "who in BT /OR polices interferance with BT/OR PLANT?" As this is the second time in a few years we've had council contractors removing etc overhead wiring, with a lot of problems to the users , I'd like to notify BT/OR and get them involved to do the job properly/safely and with minimal loss of service.

The firm that are doing the work are the same firm that replaced windows in this roadsome time ago. I've had them return to fix the same dropped window three times ,and several visits to seal up poor installation work from drafts. Our window cleaner tells me he's given up on them and he's now on tube no3 of silicone to cure drafts in his home a few doors down.

Aspman, since I've had no further reply on safety grounds from the Council Surveyor, I've involved my local councillor , citing Elf & safety fears. Remembering the window fiasco a few years ago, I won't hold my breath. Short version- I had rivits on one window fail and window fell ot as it was opened. Our then residents association took this up-no response. Week later in another house a window fell out- same reason . We as a residents association wrote the the Chief Exec quoting our evidence and stating that our evidence and complaints would be made available to any person suffering injury in the event of legal action. Aplan of action, involving replacing the rivits into the plastic frames was put in place . Screws replaced the rivits.

SWBOY- I prefer PREVENTATIVE maintenance- stop the problem ,BEFORE it occurs. Aspeed camera will not prevent an accident in the same way that a Traffic cop will.

Edited 16 May, 20188 yr by VWD

I'm with the window cleaner. Given up. Your explanation is as hard to understand as your original post, given the seeminglY RANDOM CAPITALisations, lack of paragraphs, etc.

They need to ban TLA's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Letter Acronym.

 

Thanks AG Falco

Rusty-& AG- GOOD- . AG, those of us in the telecomms sector might accommodate you and talk in two letter Acroynms, since you fail to understand the three letter ones. But if you don't understand the problem, why suggest an answer that bears no relation to the origonal question, that a true Telecomms person would know th meaning of.

Rusty- In a part of North Yorks, to get the message on PLANT across to the natives, one construction firm put up a large picture of a Giant sunflower, to gt the message of "LARGE PLANT CROSSING ROAD". As Swimbo is from North Yorks, perhaps I might ask her to draw you some pictures.

Im telling you - H&S is the easiest way to get it sorted and done right. 

And the best way for that is straight to the HSE. Report what you can see as clearly unsafe practices and theyl send someone to check it out, theyl puck up in the offences and make them put it right and not repeat it or shut the works down.

 

As to BT/OR - log it with them as a vandalism report. Im sure theres an emergency number for them. Theyll send someone to check it out, see whats been done to the cables and let rip on the contractor. 

12 hours ago, AGFalco said:

They need to ban TLA's

 

 

Three Legged Antelopes!?

19 hours ago, VWD said:

SWBOY- I prefer PREVENTATIVE maintenance- stop the problem ,BEFORE it occurs. Aspeed camera will not prevent an accident in the same way that a Traffic cop will.

I too prefer preventative maintenance, but I also try to ensure I always have a backup plan . Working as Chief Engineer for a multinational telecomms company taught me that was essential to mitigate dropouts in service, and relying on one service provider would end in tears.

 

P.S. Your windows should have been held in place by rivets not rivits.

21 hours ago, VWD said:

"LARGE PLANT CROSSING ROAD"

 

A Triffid?

 

Thanks AG Falco

5 hours ago, SWBoy said:

I too prefer preventative maintenance, but I also try to ensure I always have a backup plan . Working as Chief Engineer for a multinational telecomms company taught me that was essential to mitigate dropouts in service, and relying on one service provider would end in tears.

 

P.S. Your windows should have been held in place by rivets not rivits.

AH- so that's why the joint "croaked".

2 hours ago, AGFalco said:

 

A Triffid?

 

Thanks AG Falco

No- a Terribly Large Anthurium.( =TLA= QED).

And for the non Latin speaking community,it translates into "that which needed to be demonstrated". AH- the benefits of an old fashioned SCOTTISH Education- eh, KEN.

 

Edited 17 May, 20188 yr by VWD

23 hours ago, mac11irl said:

Im telling you - H&S is the easiest way to get it sorted and done right. 

And the best way for that is straight to the HSE. Report what you can see as clearly unsafe practices and theyl send someone to check it out, theyl puck up in the offences and make them put it right and not repeat it or shut the works down.

 

As to BT/OR - log it with them as a vandalism report. Im sure theres an emergency number for them. Theyll send someone to check it out, see whats been done to the cables and let rip on the contractor. 

mAc- Report filled in, but I've got an extra ace in hole. My old mate, is a councillor on adjacent ward. And he's also an ex BT engineer, now retired. So perhaps he might be someone to advise the contract departments on the liability of idiots messing around with OR kit.

@VWD

Id probably use his ex BT-ishness to get a name of someone in BT to talk to directly about the interference with plant, rather than the "political" side of his name. Mostly because, as you say, he is in a different ward. HSE have stronger powers of enforcement too. So they can stop the work on safety grounds and make direct representations to BT and Police if necessary if laws have been broken.

17 hours ago, VWD said:

No- a Terribly Large Anthurium.( =TLA= QED (Quad Erat Demonstrandum)).

And for the non Latin speaking community,it translates into "that which needed to be demonstrated". AH- the benefits of an old fashioned SCOTTISH Education- eh, KEN.

 

Aye, aye. Ma maw telt me yon, whin ah wus aboot 8.

Canny on Ken- most folks south of the Wall have problems understanding their own tongue.

On 5/18/2018 at 15:25, KenONeill said:

Aye, aye. Ma maw telt me yon, whin ah wus aboot 8.

 

 

!!         I must have been taught Scottish at school, or your accent is slipping 

8 hours ago, Lady Elanore said:

 

 

!!         I must have been taught Scottish at school, or your accent is slipping 

Well, I was always told that "a Geordie is just a Scot with their brain knocked out".

Funny, we were told just opposite....conspiracy to keep our peoples apart? 

@Lady Elanore - Very likely; even back in primary school and meeting Geordies in places like Liverpool and Scarborough we were being asked to tak them wi us come Independence.