Councils in Great Britain are starting to join a campaign hoping to bust "myths" about Health and Safety. They have signed up to ten principles of sensible risk management outlining what is, and what is not, acceptable.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) "sign up to sensible risk campaign" is aimed at combating a growing number of myths that are undermining important health and safety legislation. Heather Bryant, head of the HSE East and South East Division said, "Some of the health and safety stories you hear are just myths and some are instances where it is used as an excuse to justify unpopular decisions. Sensible risk management is about managing risks that cause real harm and suffering not bureaucratic back-covering. We are about keeping people safe not stopping people from living."
To illustrate the need for such a campaign, some of the more entertaining "health and safety gone mad" stories from this month include, carpenters and woodworkers being banned from using brooms to sweep up sawdust amid fears of provoking asthma attacks and nose cancer. A "ban" which is apparently the result of non-mandatory guidelines. Also the mayor of Maidstone in England has been ordered to remove the town's flag from her official car, as the eight inch crest could pose a danger to other road users!
