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Minister calls for common sense approach from councils and schools after spate of ridiculous excuses

Besi Besemar April 17, 2014

Frilly socks and small daffodil canes are some of the items banned on grounds of health and safety.

Mike Penning MP
Mike Penning MP

Schools and councils across the country need to educate their staff to prevent the misuse of health and safety laws, Minister Mike Penning said today, following a number of complaints from members of the public.

Nearly 300 people have approached the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Myth Buster Challenge Panel in the last two years, claiming they have been fobbed off with bogus excuses.

The Minister responsible for Health and Safety, Mike Penning MP, has written personally to councils and schools on issues ranging from a ban on Help for Heroes wristbands to a council’s refusal to clear dog mess in a playground.

He said: “Enough is enough. Health and safety has long been used as a smoke screen by jobsworths who have little knowledge of the law and who want to fob people off with an easy excuse.

“I want all councils and schools to take advantage of this advice from the HSE to make sure we get the right balance in the future.”

Other examples of bizarre mis-interpretation of health and safety law include:

* A school in Hampshire not allowing a pupil to bring in a baby chick for his presentation due to concerns about spreading bird flu.

• A school in Gloucester banning girls from wearing frilly socks for fear of them tripping over.

• A borough council in Derbyshire ordering the small wooden canes protecting daffodil bulbs to be removed in case someone tripped and fell in the flowerbed.

• A local council in Scotland banning dog shows from being held in community halls on the grounds of health and safety.

• A town council near Manchester adopting a policy that prevents loose flowers and pots being placed on graves.

• Despite being applauded by the council for their flower display, a group of residents in Whitley Bay were subsequently asked to remove it on health and safety grounds.

The Health and Safety Executive is also cracking down on over-zealous application of health and safety law, with a dedicated advice section on its website for councils. It has also held an event with local authorities in Yorkshire to educate staff about what constitutes a sensible risk ahead of the arrival of the Tour de France in the summer.

Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, said: “I would urge all decision makers to take a step back and ask themselves whether a decision made in the name of health and safety, is actually just an excuse for something else. Real health and safety is about protecting people in the workplace from life and health threatening risks – it is not about stopping a child taking a baby chick into school, or banning indoor dog training.

“Own up to the real reasons behind the decision, don’t just reach for the easiest excuse.”

To check if a health and safety excuse is genuine, CLICK HERE: to contact the Myth Busters Challenge Panel.

 

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