Posted By Chris Packham To expand on JM's comments, from my experience, having lived and worked in Germany and now having progessional involvement there, your average German worker does not need to sue his employer. His problem will be dealt with by his 'trade association' (Berufsgenossenschaft) whose experts will investigate the problem, determine whether it is a genuine occupational problem (anerkannt) and decide upon the appropriate compensation payable by the employer (whose liability insurance is dealt with by the Berufsgenossenschaft anyway). He also has a legal right to retraining where appropriate. Since the employer's premium for his liability insurance will be dealt with by the Berufsgenossenschaft and will reflect the number and seriousness of the claims made during the previous year, there is at least some incentive for the employer to get it right. Having said this, I must add that my experience does not lead me to the conclusion that their standards are necessarily any better than ours. A well managed U.K. company can stand comparison with one anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, SME's tend not to fall into this category in the U.K. whereas, for example, in Germany they have to be registered and signed up with the relevant Berufsgenossenschaft. At least this arrangement spares the employee the hassle of having to take legal action to obtain compensation.

Posted By AlB Consider this. You have a substance that can catch fire. So you put it into a container. But H&S spods say that's not good enough. You've also got to make double sure and triple sure that that substance that can catch fire does not leak from the container. But hey, some H&S do-gooder wants to have ANOTHER container to put the first container in in case the first container (with its double and triple protection) should leak. But hey, someone else comes along and decides that they need YET ANOTHER system in place to make sure that if the second container containing the first container (with its double and triple protection) does not leak!!! NOW someone else has come along and says that all this level of protection is NOT ENOUGH!!!!!! WOW! Crazy! H&S gone mad! Or is it? Does this scenario ring a bell? What was the consequence? That's right......Buncefield Oil Depot explosion and fire, 11th December 2005. Boy oh boy were they lucky to get away without a single fatality. Now THAT is what H&S is about.

Posted By Stupendous Man It's a real shame that the BBC let their discussion thread deteriorate into people having a go at food hygiene, entertainment licensing and a whole host of other things that have absolutely nothing to do with health and safety. Or perhaps we should take note that attitudes have developed to the extent that any mention of the word no, irrespective of the circumstances, is automatically assumed to relate to health and safety. Little Johnny: Daddy, can I watch that Debbie Does Dallas DVD that you keep under the box of loose nuts in the garage? Daddy: No Little Johnny: This is health and safety gone mad! (Or perhaps I'm mistaken and it should be 'This is against my human rights...)

Posted By John Murgatroyd http://corpreform.typepa...rm/mcdonalds_article.pdf

Posted By John Mackessack Brilliant thread! Apparently, I saw on the news that 2006 is going to be a very bad year for Horse Chestnut trees with a very low yield of CONKERS!! Yipes, I hope the PPE companies will adjust their sales forecasts accordingly! Also, many thanks to Merv and Chris for fleshing out the bones of my earlier point (and putting me right too!). I still wonder if we should align our legislature more with the rest of Europe re: worker compensation schemes etc...... But perhaps that's another thread. John