The survey of 2,000 by the international animal charity SPANA also found a quarter of British workers would have preferred to work 50 years ago, when health and safety regulations were much less tough.
Although of those who have been injured in the workplace, a quarter admitted they were contravening health and safety rules at the time.
The survey also found many workers are frustrated by workplace rules that prevent them from giving a colleague a paracetamol, banning birthday cake candles and preventing them from wearing flip-flops in the office.
It claimed one in five workers are not allowed to change light bulbs in their workplace because of their company’s health and safety rules.
“Health and safety rules that are deemed over-the-top can cause frustration for employees,” said SPANA Chief Executive, Geoffrey Dennis.
“However, most people in the UK recognise that these policies are there for a reason – and over three-quarters think that we are lucky to have health and safety regulations as workers. Ultimately, everyone wants to go home safely at the end of the day, whether that’s from an office or a building site.
“For working animals and their owners in developing countries these workplace protections simply don’t exist. On a daily basis, working animals such as donkeys, horses and camels face many serious threats – from wounds, injuries and road accidents to tetanus and other deadly infections,” added Mr Dennis.
“That’s why SPANA’s work is so important – ensuring that the welfare of these hardworking animals is improved and that they get access to the vital veterinary treatment they need. We believe that a life of work shouldn’t mean a life of suffering.”
A HSE spokesperson said: “We’re well aware of the catch-all phrase ‘health and safety’ being used incorrectly, or as a smokescreen to mask an unpopular decision and our work over many years to debunk these myths has included engaging positively with employers to improve their understanding.
“We must not, however, lose sight of the responsibility duty holders have to consider the extent to which workers need protection against significant workplace risks. But the existence of ridiculous edicts can sadly trivialise the simple reality that health and safety law is aimed at protecting workers ensuring they go home healthy (and safely) at the end of their day.”
As is usual with such silly surveys, the workplace health and safety regulations respondents supposedly complain about aren’t regulations at all
Another silly survey to get people into the mindset that health & safety isn’t important.
50+ years ago, fatalities were planned into major construction projects. 50 years ago, asbestos wasn’t taken seriously, now the people who used it are dying of abestosis and mesothelioma.
Stop with this rubbish and get on with showing how health & safety protects workers from themselves and unscrupulous greedy employers
Pointless survey – all it does is encourage childish uninformed whinging that fits in with the tabloid narrative of “elfnsafety gone mad”. I don’t think SHP is helping the Health & Safety cause but giving this survey the oxygen of publicity and without challenging its purpose and findings.