Health and Safety is often cited as the reason for stopping acceptable events simply because it is a convenient tag-line. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is fighting back, writing to the media which reports such stories and, in essence, putting the record straight.
In many of the cases where health and safety is cited as a barrier, there is no legal basis for the decision, and other factors are to blame before health and safety. In January, the HSE had to rebuff two such stories.
The first was a claim that council officials in Leicester told tower block tenants to remove doormats from outside their homes as they are a health and safety hazard. For instance, residents could trip on the mat if there was a fire. The HSE said that there were no health and safety regulations prohibiting the use of doormats, and although the council have explained their reasons for requesting the removal, it has nothing to do with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Secondly, the Northamptonshire Beer Festival was cancelled because of health and safety concerns. The Festival lacked willing volunteers and the organisers claimed that there was a risk that they would be left open to insurance claims. In response, the HSE said that there was nothing in health and safety law to prevent the event from going ahead, and the real issue was the lack of volunteers.
These responses come from the HSE's Myth Busters Challenge Panel, which wants to make it clear that health and safety is about managing real risks properly, not being risk aware and stopping people from getting on with their lives.
If you think a decision or advice that you have been given in the name of health and safety is wrong, or disproportionate to what you are doing, you can complain to the panel. It will investigate and publish its findings on the HSE website.
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