This subject was widely discussed at christmas concerning decorations, but im affraid it is raising its ugly head again as my office is covered with world cup decorations. For over 3 years i had a battle to get notice boards put up by each section, so each team could post their own news and team results,and not plaster stuff all over the walls, last week each section was allocated a team for the world cup and then asked to decorate their area with their team colours, great no problem, except that some staff are climbing on chairs and tables to put up their decorations. an email was sent to every manager explaining that this had to stop, sorted i thought, until i came in this morning and there are decorations up high that i cant even touch and i am over 6ft tall, so no one is taking notice of H&S at all, and to rub salt in the wound, a gigantic picture of the leader of Korea is now on the wall, it is made up of 20 a4 laminated sheets and joined together to make a big picture. The manager has stated that its fine because it is laminated!! i am at my wits end, on one hand i dont want to be a killjoy, but on the other hand i honestly think it has gone to far. What would you do if you were in my position? i initially said ok to the decorations before they went up at ceiling height, and i agreed that they could stay up till the world cup finished, but i feel they have taken it too far, especially ignoring the email about standing on chairs and tables. Plus i am dealing with managers who dont consider the fire risks involved. Your thoughts please

Sean: Take some good advice from Steve, it is only your responsibility to make sure that you have advised your managers correctly, given appropriate advice, and done what is expected. If after you have taken the horse to water, and it will not drink, the managers then have to deal with the problems. Which team did you get BTW, sounds like a ranked outsider.

My thoughts entirely.....North Korea.

France then ;)

I'm a bloke so a tad confused. Well known as the most sucessful city in the country for football as well, mind Everton haven't contributed that much to it, but thankfully i'm a red.

That's one of the problems with Liverpool supporters, they live in the past but only go back as far as they want to. i.e. Shankly got them out of division 2 but they don't go further than than. Everton have existed since before Liverpool and once occupied Anfield. Don't drag football into a health and safety discussion unless you are prepared to discuss it fully. As far as the decorations are concerned be sensible about your rules, allow a reasonable amount, the shattered lives poster is a good idea. Don't know how long they will last anyway as England have started out not too good.

Of course you're being a killjoy but I hate football and the whole World Cup commotion is driving me nuts so please go right ahead and be a killjoy!!! ;-) (haven't we all stood on a table at some point to put up decorations or posters??? - don't worry about what you didn't see is my advice!!)

Steve you didn't mention our "scottish" goalie - how remiss of you :-)

I balanced the risk - forget or get blamed...

He turned Algerian the following day ;) Sean, you work about 10-15 minutes walk from where i live nr Tithebarn Street (as much info as you're getting ...)

Just having a little chuckle to myself. We recently moved into a new site office and I noticed a nice notice board in the kitchen and I thought great, I can piut up the HSE poster, copy of F10, latest safety alerts...next day the notice board was completely covered with pictures/jokes which had been previously pinned to a wall in the old office. If I had mentioned about a fire risk I would have been laughed out the office, or possibly strung up.

I love the way Everton supporters argue not to look at the past but are more than willing to do so when they are looking at how long Liverpool have not won the league for. Anyway as they say Calm down, calm down, some places are lucky to be allowed to hang posters, some can't in case they upset people. Just remeber when they are taken down that will give you the opportunity to look at doing it safely. S that will be on the 23rd.