Most would agree that Members of Parliament are generally quite good at being ‘bonkers’ but there was a chance to find out how skilled they are at conkers earlier this week, when IOSH staged a challenge in the heart of Westminster.
MPs and peers were invited by the Institution to square up to members of the press on 14 October as part of the ‘Stop taking the myth’ campaign, which emphasises that health and safety isn’t a killjoy conspiracy to ban people’s fun but a necessary safeguard against injuries and possible death.
Using conkers supplied by the organisers of the World Conker Championships, which took place in Northamptonshire last week, all participants had a ‘cracking’ time. The final was a tense affair between MPs Bob Russell (Lib-Dem) and Tim Loughton (Con), with Bob eventually emerging as the winner (he is pictured with his trophy).
He commented: “Health and safety is a very important subject, but sometimes the message of preventing death and injury is lost when health and safety is blamed unfairly for allegedly preventing people from having a good time. By holding a light-hearted conkers competition I hope it will help convey the message that health and safety is not about preventing people enjoying themselves.”
IOSH president, Nattasha Freeman, added: “Cancelling or banning things is so often driven by the fear of being sued, the cost of putting on an activity, or the misguided belief that what is required is simply too complicated. It’s time to stop health and safety being used as a convenient, catch-all excuse and appreciate that it’s there to be used to save lives, not ruin them.”
On the morning of the challenge, IOSH’s immediate past-president, Ray Hurst, appeared on ITV’s breakfast programme, GMTV, to highlight the campaign and reinforce the message that health and safety is not to blame for many of the instances seized on by the media. To see how he did, click here.
