Location and industry?

[Keith1983]

How about a section where people can go to see where people are located and what indusrty they work in. For example, if I was having an issue and wanted to speak to someone in the engineering/manufacturing industry I could look in there or if I wanted to speak to someone local I could find that out too. I know people have their location under their name when they post a thread but I thought this would be better for searching and potentially contacting people who could maybe offer assistance?

[Jack Kane]

Great idea Keith, unfortunately we tried something like what you describe a while ago. I set up an entire forum section for networking, which contained groups for people to join regarding their specific industry. People could post industry specific questions etc.

It worked to a point, but it didn't get much visibility as people generally post and look in the main forum sections like the general, fire, enviro sections etc.

I ended up removing it due to a couple of reasons including: lack of activity; lack of visibility; to tidy up the look of the forums; and it's amazing how many issues that crop up can be cross-related to many different types of organisation and industry sectors, so posting in the more general sections actually helps more people on a day to day basis.

However, what I can do is add custom fields to user control panels. As an example, I've added a new field for 'industry sector' where we can all add what sector we are in. Have a look at my profile for an example. You can change yours too.

It's not ideal and it's not searchable unfortunately, but at least it should display on the mini profile when posting normally like the location information does at the moment.

[Jack Kane]

For some reason, it's not displaying on the mini profile field.

[Jack Kane]

For some reason, it's not displaying on the mini profile field.

Sorted, yes it is

[Jack Kane]

For some reason, it's not displaying on the mini profile field.

Sorted, yes it is

Incidentally, I can add more custom profile fields. I'd rather not have loads though as it will increase the load on the server and will increase the sheer size of the mini profile.

[Keith1983]

I was kind of thinking if instead of somewhere to post sector specific queries there could just be a list of members, their location and their industry which could be searched through using either location or industry. For example if I was looking for someone to carry out a fire risk assessment I could look for people in the fire industry and then see if any of them were nearby? Does that make sense?

[Jack Kane]

Yup it does make sense Keith.

Unfortunately the forums aren't capable of a search function like this, unless there is a modification for it.

As far as I can tell a system like this would need to be set up manually.

[Keith1983]

Fair enough. To be fair most calls for help are swiftly responded to on here anyway such is the nature of the forum members!

[acko 338]

The best type of well set out request will always bring a swift response by those who may fortunately be further in the know on some special subjects.

This is by far the friendliest H&S site around for ALL levels of participants and readers.

Long may this stay so !!

[superscaff75]

thats a defo i been promoting it on a scaffolders forum to people who looking to change careers lol

long time no posts i know lol

[Alexis]

Good to see you again Scaffy. Missed you.

[superscaff75]

thanx alexis i have been popping in every once in a while but havnt really posted anything , i got a bit too addicted to facebook for a while and prob wasted best part of last 12 months talking pants and playing mafia wars , i hold willie pool wholy responsible for that (mafia wars) lol. now im thinking of getting back on the career path im thinking of doing a course so i can become a teacher and assessor for scaffolding and health n safety courses