USE OF INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS BY CONSULTANTS

[Clevelandfire 3]

Clevey, No you have missed my thrust, although I am gald to see we are broadly agreed. It is not specifically to do with a tender-that was ages ago. But now take a scroll through the last years posts. Some, as the kurnal said only want to bounce their ideas off people. For one man band thats invaluable. The concern I have is with those that have no ideas, but have taken a job on with no idea how to solve it and then go into reams on detail hoping others will give of their time and expertise to give them the answer. One particular individual had been doing so for ages without the knowledge of his bosses (who were concerned when it was brought to their attention). But he is one of several.

Solving serious fire safety issues by the Internet is positively dangerous, aside from the liability it can create for those who provide the solutions. Old Codgers who actually are quite capable getting help with their cpd or bouncing ideas of chums to make sure they are not getting isolated by working alone is a whole different ball game than getting your whole job done by others.

That was my point. Take it for whats its worth and discard it by all means.

Colin. Fair enough I take your point. There is a huge difference between someone seeking confirmation of their ideas and logic than someone simply knowing nothing and lazily seeking the opinion of true professionals

[Tom Sutton]

TW I am fully aware of CTs frustrations, I was however aiming specifically at Jokar's comments.

I was not suggesting for a moment you were not fully aware of CT’s frustrations it was the writting style, a mixture of analogies and banter which made it difficult to understand the serious point of the posting. It also made it difficult to determine who was being attacked so they could reply and justify their position. CT assures us that those involved, know who they are, but I am still not sure, I certainly tick some of the many boxes and I suspect so does others then are we all involved?

I agree with Jokar banter is fine but only when it doesn’t detract from the point of the message.

[Davo]

TW

Apologies if I was not clear. I suspect the banter is there because we are unsure how to tread.

CT does make a serious point, it can be spotted just as he says.

Does it include you? Definitely not. You are clearly one of the good guys


davo

[CivvyFSO]

I have seen the forum Colin is talking about, and I have seen people who must only be just about qualified as first aiders who seem to be asking questions about open heart surgery. I have also seen qualified surgeons asking questions that a first aider could answer.

That being said, many times it is clear that the person is qualified, and a second opinion of the treatment required is all they are after. Open heart surgery can be complicated, and often there will be many ways to do something, and it is clearly beneficial to the client to be given the best option, which may have eluded the original consultant.

You also get people who have been told they need an operation, and come here to find excuses of how to avoid that operation.

[Midland Retty]

Most people use the firenet forums for legitimate reasons. Sometimes it is just to satisfy a hunch, or garner opinion on certain scenarios or issues, other members use it to increase knowledge and understanding of the field. I see absolutely no problem with that.

I like to use the forums because it is good to get the views of people from other areas within the industry, assessors and consultants in particular. I also see how it would benefit "one man bands" or people who don't have access to the exchange of views and opinions over the coffee table as I do.

I'm not sure who Colin is referring to, and Im not particularly interested. But I think we need to bear in mind that whilst there are incompetent people either maliciously or otherwise fleecing clients, without the relevant experience or knowledge to do a particular job, members should not be discouraged from asking questions even if they perhaps appear daft questions.

We all had to start somewhere, these forums have enriched my knowledge greatly. It is a great tool, and what's more it's free and open to anyone and everyone.

 

[CivvyFSO]

I just think it is nice for him not to be having a go at the fire service for once. Shows more of a balanced approach, a bit like Roy Chubby Brown, he is not racist - he hates everyone equally.

[Tom Sutton]

Davo it’s obvious you haven’t worked with me, Colin’s medical problem seems to come to mind

[David Rooney]

Sounds like piles ......... 

[Davo]

TW

Better to be an honest pain in the ar*e than shamelessly earning piles from other peoples knowhow

Many years ago when I first started out in H & S, a wise H & S professional advised me to know my limitations. This still holds today. I can swim but I never go out of my depth

davo

[Allen Higginson]

I'd rather someone asked a question than assume an answer (the only stupid question is one that isn't asked) but there does come a point where the bleedin' obvious should be known.

[Thomas Brookes]

Whilst we are looking at this subject.

What about the the chief surgen generals officers, they come down and assess the health of a person and then often force the person into having a major very costly operation done, when all that was needed was a little tweek off his left nipple.

So who is worse the surgen who is not so skilled asking for advice because he knows hes out his depth or the the big cheese at the surgen generals office who does his inspection and then just gets it wrong asks no advice but forces the big operation on the poor man.
 

[CivvyFSO]

The person who is asking for advice should leave my nipples alone until he knows about nipples.

[footieboy]

Is it right that people put scenarios on that they are being paid for, use the reponse from other people and then claim the dosh and credit. Its not just the answer you need but the background to where that answer came from.

[Mike Buckley]

Yes they may claim the dosh and the credit but they also cop the blame if it goes wrong. I can imagine the fun the lawyers would have if someone claimed it wasn't their fault because they got the information off a bulletin board.

At the end of the day it is the "consultant" who takes the money who must take the risk. Even the wisest sage from the forum (or even Mr Todd) cannot give a definitive answer from a description on the board all they can do is say that the situation sounds like it should have this answer. All our debates only really give is hypothetical answers unless we actually visit the sites and see the documentation.

[colin todd]

...but case law suggests I believe that you do not need to be paid to have liability for advice you give. Free advice given on a forum carries with it a liability based on a duty of care.  So, yes lawyers could have great fun if it all goes wrong.