Posted By Jeff Manion It appears to be over the top for the Christmas trees. under MHSWR 1999 and the acop 13 (a) insignificant risks can usually be ignored. Under MHSWR 1999 and the acop 9 to assess the risks to workers and others who may be affected by their business. Not sure if decorating Christmas trees and work or business for the organisation. Surely it should be considered under "suitable and sufficient" taks about the "potential hazards" and then take action. Does the worker put the Christmas decorations at home? Are they at risk in the home environment. The general statement gives safety bad press.

Posted By Sean Fraser Jeff, My thoughts were along the same lines - an RA needs to be proportionate to the level and number of hazards involved to be justified. However, it might be that the care provider has records of a disproportionately high number of accidents around this period and installing / decorating / removing trees were frequently cited, hence the reaction. We've had this discussion before and we have bemoaned the way that safety is (mis)represented in the press - articles like this only reinforce the negative image of over-bureaucratic nit-picking busy-bodies that we seem to be burdened with. Without making any contextual comment, readers are left to draw their own conclusions. Sadly, I would suspect a large number would laugh at the safety profession as a whole as a result of this, rather then wryly smiling at what appears to be an isolated over-reaction. As for the issue to hand, I believe that a timely awareness campaign of the dangers of the festive period (especially over consumption of food and alcohol) would be more appropriate than forcing additional paperwork burdens onto already hassled and harried staff - but I'm making assumptions here and there might be a good case for it the way it is. However, we should all be looking at our management systems and consider if the plethora of paperwork we produce is absolutely necessary and of any real benefit to the organisation and society as a whole. I was tempted to write to the editor but I think we need a more positive counter to such articles than simply complaining - once more reinforcing the negative image of ourselves. Any suggestions?

Posted By Hilary Charlton I believe that there is a genuine risk here. I'm not talking about the trees that most of us put up in the offices or reception of our buildings but what about the big trees that are installed in towns in the festive season, I know in Eastbourne we have 30ft trees on several rounabouts in the town. Erecting and decorating these will be a health and safety issue, again, look at the huge tree in Trafalgar Square - you would need scaffolding, a crane, procedures for working at height - if you are going to respond then this is probably the best example of Christmas Tree erection in the UK that there is and it has very real health and safety issues. Hilary