Block Inspections

[Dragoon]

It's that time of the year again, and all the block jobs have been posted on the doors.

One thing has always nagged at me though, on some inspections, we are told to leave our doors unlocked, so they can be inspected.
If I went to work, leaving my door unlocked as told, and got robbed, surely I wouldnt have a leg to stand on when reporting to the police or claiming on insurance?

Leaving my door unlocked surely invalidates my insurance, and the police are going to say, "Well, you left you're door unlocked, you're inviting a robbery"

What do fellow Goaters have to say on this matter? Its one thats made me think a fair bit.

 

[Cooheed]

The Block Snek plus orderlies should be there, crawling over the place, way before you all leave and the Snek will have hold of the master key to lock rooms post inspection. Would take quite a sneaky sneak thief to nick your 42" Plasma in that scenario DT_Xtremez_15:

 

[Tashy_Man]

It's that time of the year again, and all the block jobs have been posted on the doors.

One thing has always nagged at me though, on some inspections, we are told to leave our doors unlocked, so they can be inspected.
If I went to work, leaving my door unlocked as told, and got robbed, surely I wouldnt have a leg to stand on when reporting to the police or claiming on insurance?

Leaving my door unlocked surely invalidates my insurance, and the police are going to say, "Well, you left you're door unlocked, you're inviting a robbery"

What do fellow Goaters have to say on this matter? Its one thats made me think a fair bit.

When i lived in the block many moons ago if they wanted to enter my room i would always insist on being there...they cannot deny your presence.....if they ask why just say i don't trust you lot in my room...SIR.....they aint got a leg to stand on.......

Would be better if everyone in the block did it as this would lead to disruption at work and at the moment we could not operate at that level....yet another message to those up high to ignore.

Crack on.................DT_Xtremez_09:

 

[True Blue Jack]

I'm with TM. As far as I am aware your room "cannot" be inspected without you being present. Something to do with invasion of privacy and illegal searches I think. Whatever the legalities of it you would be mad to leave your room unlocked while you're at work, particularly if you have all the usual mod cons: TV, PC, laptop, iPod, etc. If the block Snec or whoever gets ar$ey with you just tell them they are welcome to see the inside of your room, but you insist on being there.

What would be good is if you set up a webcam in case they let themselves in with a master key. You can get cheap spy kits from most good toy shops as well; sets off an alarm if they break the infra-red beam and stuff like that.

 

[Shinyscot]

Slightly Off Topic I know, but does anyone know why it is that block inspections are mandatory for all, i.e a 30 yo divorced Cpl has to be checked upon to ensure that he is changing bedsheets, and an 18 yo can get a married quarter and live in whatever slum he likes?

 

[airframe doctor]

Door sign?

Door sign?

When I lived in albeit a while ago now, regardless of whether we were or not most guys used to put a "Do NOT disturb...Sleeping Off Nights" sign on our door. Don't know if that rule still applies today but worth a shot to prevent unwanted entry into your room when your not there. Bearing in mind this was a Sqn block so it wasn't an unusual request.

 

[CodeMonkey]

Slightly Off Topic I know, but does anyone know why it is that block inspections are mandatory for all, i.e a 30 yo divorced Cpl has to be checked upon to ensure that he is changing bedsheets, and an 18 yo can get a married quarter and live in whatever slum he likes?

I remember the classic while i was in the block it was "to ensure that any work services were completed"

 

[Tashy_Man]

I'm sure that S2 takes his duties seriously and checks the shreddies of his male subbordinates at least twice a week....just to be sure....

Crack on..................DT_Xtremez_09:

 

[Albert Park]

What would be good is if you set up a webcam in case they let themselves in with a master key. You can get cheap spy kits from most good toy shops as well; sets off an alarm if they break the infra-red beam and stuff like that.

Bit paranoid, are you?

When I was SNCO IC Block the occupant's rooms were all locked during the inspection. If the inspecting officer wanted to inspect an individual's room I would use my master key, remain present during the inspection, securing the room on departure. Out of courtesy I would let the occcupants know whose rooms were entered.

Other times I used the master key was to escort Works Services when the room occupant was unobtainable.

How I rejoiced when the block was demolished in preparation for SLAM.

 

[Defender of the universe]

The biggest problem with block inspections:
1. Most of us aint kids and look after our rooms and keep them at a good standard.
2. Cleaners are employed yet we are told to clean the blocks to a higher standard. Why cant Harry Staish see what a crap job the cleaners do.
3. When my last block inspection was done the person opening the doors forgot to lock at least three rooms that I know of one of them being mine..boy was I ****ed off.
4. Why should anybody have the right to enter your room when you are not there. This is as stated previously is an infringement of your rights, If you rent privately at no point can the landlord enter your abode without you being there.

 

[metimmee]

When I lived in albeit a while ago now, regardless of whether we were or not most guys used to put a "Do NOT disturb...Sleeping Off Nights" sign on our door. Don't know if that rule still applies today but worth a shot to prevent unwanted entry into your room when your not there. Bearing in mind this was a Sqn block so it wasn't an unusual request.

I remember a bloke who knew that a rather tasty female officer was on the inspection put a notice that he was sleeping off nights and purposely laid naked on the top of his bed, just in case she dared to open his door DT_Xtremez_28: ...she never

 

[Dragoon]

Why should my room be inspected anyway?
I can understand the BLOCK being inspected, we have a right to each other to keep the bogs/showers/wash room etc clean, but my room?
Im a big boy now, and I keep my space tidy.
Imagine if the MQ's were to be inspected in a similar manner?
TV licences shown, make sure theres no washing on the line, you're shed cleaned out of all boxes and stored items, garage floor scrubbed of oil stains, it's just stupid really.
It's almost like we are being harrassed for being singlies, or at least for useing the bases accom.

My door has always stayed locked during inspections, and sometimes ive taken a day off just to stay in bed and see if they come in my room. (they never did)

And as for store rooms?
Anyone at Brize who has stayed in the 500 blocks know of the large Utility rooms in the middle, in my block people are storing beds, and other large items.
We have been told to remove ALL items. From a store room. WHY?
If they are properly labelled, what the hell is the problem with them being neatly stowed away in their?

Inspections always get my goat, as I see little point in the way we go about them. Why make a **** block look good? We'll never get anything better if Harry Staish sees them gleaming all the time, do a spot inspection, and see how they really are!

 

[MattBombHead]

Inspections always get my goat, as I see little point in the way we go about them. Why make a **** block look good? We'll never get anything better if Harry Staish sees them gleaming all the time, do a spot inspection, and see how they really are!

I gotta agree with Dragoon, whats the point of polishing a turd? DT_Xtremez_41:

And as for leaving rooms open, out in the Swamps, block inspections are considered a duty, and all occupants are to be present for inspections. The SNCO i/c my block is getting very petty, and threatening to fizz 'offenders' who don't contact him in advance to let him know they won't be there....DT_Xtremez_32:

 

[MTC28]

The 500 blocks at Bzn

The 500 blocks at Bzn

It wasn't so very long ago that block 500 inspections were once a month, and everything had to be immaculate. Drying rooms had to be empty and swept,
and no storing of anything, anywhere, on pain of interview without coffee!
We never questioned it. It was just part of service life...

 

[roverboy]

The biggest problem with block inspections:
1. Most of us aint kids and look after our rooms and keep them at a good standard.
2. Cleaners are employed yet we are told to clean the blocks to a higher standard. Why cant Harry Staish see what a crap job the cleaners do.
3. When my last block inspection was done the person opening the doors forgot to lock at least three rooms that I know of one of them being mine..boy was I ****ed off.
4. Why should anybody have the right to enter your room when you are not there. This is as stated previously is an infringement of your rights, If you rent privately at no point can the landlord enter your abode without you being there.

I totally agree with this. Either get the cleaners to do their jobs properly or get rid of them altogether, thereby saving money. Can't see the singlies wanting to clean communal ablutions daily though.

 

[The Fact Hunter]

Why should my room be inspected anyway?
I can understand the BLOCK being inspected, we have a right to each other to keep the bogs/showers/wash room etc clean, but my room?
Im a big boy now, and I keep my space tidy.
Imagine if the MQ's were to be inspected in a similar manner?
TV licences shown, make sure theres no washing on the line, you're shed cleaned out of all boxes and stored items, garage floor scrubbed of oil stains, it's just stupid really.
It's almost like we are being harrassed for being singlies, or at least for useing the bases accom.

Why ? - Unfortunately not to see your latest pirated DVD collection but 'Works Services' is the usual answer. The 'insurance' takes a dim view especially if electrical appliances, plugs and sockets are'nt kept up to date - Stops you inadvertently burning down the accom apparently

Incidentally, you might want to try living with the Navy, like wot I dus - I'm in a Snr Rates Mess 'cabin' and still get inspected every six months - like it or not !

On the last inspection, one or two Warrant Officers even got a 'flea-in-their-ear' off the XO for not displaying their TV licences

....and don't joke about the garage either ....I have one and it has to be left open on the day ....all 'ship-shape' and with oil stains removed as you say

 

[Comms_Lad]

We have had the problem of the civilian accomodation manager just letting herself into peoples rooms on the old "work services check" cr*p, its even worse when you havent got any work services booked lol. She locked someones room when she was doing her weekly snoop, he was in the shower at the time and not a happy bunny when he came back to a locked room.

A couple of us who have webcams set them up properly (creative livecams work best) set it up to take a picture every 5 secs and aim it at your door, it takes 5-10 mins to scan through the pics at the end of the day all you have to do is delete them if nothing has happened.

We told the OC about her going into rooms and were told it wouldnt happen again after she had a word with the Accom Mgr, so when it did and we had photo proof we took it to her. Now the nosy cow has to contact the individual if she wants to go into their rooms.

Enjoy

 

[metimmee]

We have had the problem of the civilian accomodation manager just letting herself into peoples rooms on the old "work services check" cr*p, its even worse when you havent got any work services booked lol. She locked someones room when she was doing her weekly snoop, he was in the shower at the time and not a happy bunny when he came back to a locked room.

A couple of us who have webcams set them up properly (creative livecams work best) set it up to take a picture every 5 secs and aim it at your door, it takes 5-10 mins to scan through the pics at the end of the day all you have to do is delete them if nothing has happened.

We told the OC about her going into rooms and were told it wouldnt happen again after she had a word with the Accom Mgr, so when it did and we had photo proof we took it to her. Now the nosy cow has to contact the individual if she wants to go into their rooms.

Enjoy

Yet another example of how blue-suits seem unable to manage civilians. She should have been on a warning after ignoring the OC's instructions not to go into the rooms.

 

[roverboy]

To all the smallies who think they're the only ones who are victimised, we've had to allow access to our rooms in the old folks home today so they could check for cracked and blocked shower heads!!!

 

[Kernow]

The reasoning behind inspections (I believe) is that the service (as a landlord)has a duty to ensure that you are keeping the room (that you rent) to an acceptable standard i.e. not gouging big holes in the walls etc. This is the same (again I believe) for MQs DE/MHS or whatever they call themselves have a duty to ensure that you are keeping your MQ to an acceptable standard, whether they exercise this right is up to them.

Whilst it could be assumed that a mature serviceman/woman who lives in the block is more likely to take care of his room this is not always the case. I know of an incident where the bed, carpet etc were removed and incinerated and the room cleaned and re-painted due to an individual who basically was an absolute feckin minger (you wouldn't have thought to look at him).

As far as I remember you have a legal right to be present when your room is inspected and should be offered the opportunity to be there with a reasonable amount of notice given of the intention to inspect rooms. Have a read of SSOs as there is something contained in them about the block but I can't remember exactly what though.

The whole inspection thing IMHO is over the top. So long as the block is kept to a reasonable standard then you should not have to go round dusting tops of doors etc. I can never understand why if you have a cleaner employed that you need to do it again.

The cleaners if they are not doing their job should be pulled up for it by the block OIC and Snec through their management. It should also be highlighted to the contract monitoring team as if this is a bigger issue then it could affect their contract on unit.