An epidemic of excuses wrongly citing health and safety is needlessly curtailing people’s personal freedoms, Employment minister Chris Grayling announced today (24 August).
In what has been described as the Government finally “seeing sense” the minister conceded that it is misconceptions about and misapplication of health and safety legislation – rather than the laws themselves, or health and safety professionals – that have contributed to its negative image.
Speaking after the publication by the HSE on its website of the top ten most bizarre health and safety bans – including the closure of Murray Mount during this year’s Wimbledon Championships – Mr Grayling said: “We have seen an epidemic of excuses wrongly citing health and safety as a reason to prevent people from doing pretty harmless things with only very minor risks attached. This has to stop. The law does not require this to happen – people must be encouraged to use their common sense.€
One of the problems with H&S management, is you can never see the benefits of your actions; if disaster is averted, life goes on. If a Health and safety measure, including a speed camera prevents an accident there is no investigation. I suppose only long term statistics can prove beneficial. Regarding TUC comments, there is some suspicion that the government are ideologically driven on this and other cost saving measures.
Health and safety laws exist to provide important safeguards. Risk Assessments need to be undertaken when there is significant risk of hazard reaching potential. Two very fine comments. There is nothing wrong with these laws or regulations. What is a burden is the continual assessment of risk for trivial activities. A bruise to the hand following a slip with a hammer or spanner results in the solicitor requesting a risk assessment for quoting breach of regulations.
At last Government admits H&S myths come from daft decisions by untrained managers in councils/companies. Bosses failed to train managers to make such decisions and have policies and guidance robust enough to prevent them. Now Government must act on the Chartered Status nonsense which says that I, as a TECHIOSH with 22 yrs experience, am not competent to advise companies on H&S. It has damaged my business by clients consulting the register. A ‘standards’ based register please not ‘qualification’
They still forget to mention the judges and insurance companies who have awarded people compensation for putting in claims for the types of things mentioned in the top 10, no wonder that then everyone feels they have to be very cautious about what they do. e.g. parents whose children have everyday accidents at school and put in a claim. My personal favourite was a granny who wore high wedge shoes to her grandsons sports day, stepped in a hole in the grass, broke her ankle and put in a claim!
I’m confused, first H&S is blamed for the riots now this!
Make you mind up Dave & co
When I was a child I had a bike that had a ‘back pedal’ brake ……….
‘Government “sees sense” on health and safety myth-making’ – more likely the Government have seen a summary or preview of Professor Lofstedt’s impending report!
Good. Most myths really get my goat but the one about Murray Mount rankles for a different reason. If it hadn’t been closed & a pile of bodies had slipped to the bottom then H&S would have been rightly crucified. Follow the link provided above and to see the picture of young men sliding down it proves it was very slippery.
PS Think Judith Hackett was wrong to get involved on this one & suggesting it should have stayed open – more emphasis on other myth busting then would have helped more.
I note that five of the ten relate to articles published by the Daily Mail.