I was disgusted at a recent BBC antiques roadshow which promoted lies and false statements regarding heallth and sfaety regulations. The particular issue concerned a teacher who was a guest on the programme who was allowed to broadcast to the nation that rocking horses can no longer be used by children in schools due to Health and Safety regulations. When people hear this kind of rubbish on the BBC, if they don't know any better, they tend to believe it and so the endless myths, lies and misinformation continue to expand. Obviously there are NO safety regulations relating to rocking horses and nothing to prevent children using them and the BBC should not have allowed such false statements to be broadcast. The teacher should have been made to state the real reasons for preventing the children from using the horse (risk aversion due to possible insurance claims) or asked not no make any comment at all, rather than being allowed to lie. The BBC demonstrate a very irresponsible attitude in this matter and only help to fuel the fires of elf 'n safety myths which all sensible safety professionals are trying to combat.

Should have started that; "Dear Points of View"

and signed it, Disgusted of IOSH

:)

What utter nonsense. By the same token, perhaps IOSH should be inundated with 'many' letters of complaint from the millions of BBC viewers would might be concerned about some of the rubbish posted here by Forum users. No wonder they complain, it's hardly a professional response is it? People, glass houses, and all that....!

How much was the Rocking Horse worth, then?

I believe it is a very valid point made. There are too many individuals using H and S as an excuse for not doing the correct thing. BBC and all other meadia houses must understand the implications of health and safety in the workplace and should promote best practice from board to finished product - tv papers radio and after that personal perception of risk. I deal with many staff and find in particular the media in any format causes me problems by allowing and even producing very poor examples of health and safety information. not helpful and reinforces peoples attitude of "it will be OK" :-)

If you had watched the programme to the end you would have seen children using the rocker as the credits began to role- so obviously the BBC didn't agree with the teacher. John C

Exactly the scenerio that took place in our house ;-)))