By David Towlson, RRC International
I read in the newspaper this week about how all the emphasis on seating at work when using computers is probably going to cause us long-term health issues. We should be standing and walking about much more during this work. I can hear the disgruntled cries now.
The public can sometimes have a misplaced expectation of science. Like it is unchangeable. When asked to give advice, scientists give it based on the information available at the time, channelled through current theories, a dash of risk aversion and perhaps a pet theory or two thrown in for good measure. If it is public health advice then we can probably throw in huge generalisations and political chicanery into the mix (to align with government policy). It’s for the greater good, but I couldn’t possibly comment…..
But most scientists are aware that ‘facts’ (or rather what is accepted as a fact) may change as we discover more about the way the universe works. This seems unsettling for some and can lead to outrage, frustration and violence as it feels like we are being lied to. But discovering what we held to be true is no longer quite the same (or at least not the whole truth) can also be exhilarating and humbling.
And so it is with Health and Safety and what is at the heart of reasonably practicable. A proportion of what we hold to be true today will be replaced tomorrow with something else. That’s why we have to review what we did because our basis (and assumptions) change. Get used to it.
David Towlson is director of training and quality at RRC International
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