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So here we go again, leading on from an earlier blog and an update on Lord Young's review of H&S, we have further examples of what seems like a common perception that health and safety professionals are becoming the whipping boys of industry. I go on holiday to Scotland and before I've even got through my second day I hear the 'H&S gone mad' statement!
Strike 1: A tour guide at a large castle mentioned that the lone piper walking on top of the scaffolding during the military tattoo has now got to be tethered to make sure he doesn't fall off, "health and safety gone mad". As to why he is walking on top of a temporary scaffold on the castle wall with a big enough drop to kill him easily, is not explained.
Strike 2: A street artist on a 7ft high unicycle wearing a straight jacket (yes a straight jacket, it was during the fringe festival) also had a pop at "Health and safety gone mad". OK, this was a throwaway comment, but it just confirms my recent thoughts that it would have been more socially acceptable to have become a traffic warden or an estate agent (which is an answer I may have to resort to if asked the "what line of work are you in" question during my summer break).
I have heard about more fatalities than I care to mention since June, yet I have heard little to support our profession and comments from Lord Young (LY) hasn't done anything to give confidence that the review will help the situation. Legislation should not be "an excuse for inaction", agreed but let's get it in context. In August the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management led with Lord Young's recent comments on H&S Law and his call for the police to be exempt from H&S legislation, which came as a result of instances in which children have drowned, with police officers allegedly standing and watching because of H&S legislation. LY states that "we've got children dying because of H&S, Well, I'm sorry, that is just wrong and we are going to change it".
I agree that if H&S law is causing death it needs changing, however, The Police Federation have clearly stated these are examples of interpretation of law and not the Law itself. How many people including children have died from none application of safety regulations (Lyme Bay is just one example). We have to strike a balance, let's get both sides of the story and a balanced debate; can you imagine the removal of H&S law?
So are we going to be faced with a country that is given the go ahead to flaunt regulations that have been put there for a reason? We all want practical application for sure, but can we afford to make safety management subjective, haven't they tried that before? And then we had the Robens report!
We need to educate people to understand the law and how it should be applied, not remove the law because people don't understand it!
Labels: Law
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