Good article (but it's an article not an HSE statement with comments).

Won't change anything though....not until we get rid of over-zealous safety officials.

Over zelous safety officials are certainly one of the problems but they are far from being the only one.

As a race, humans feel the need to attach labels to things to help identify them. This serves to trigger a memory of whether or not that thing is dangerous (there's irony for you) or edible or etc,. This is a very useful survival tool that operates subconciously. As a race, we wouldn't have survived without it and nor would any other species.

However, this brain function is often at odds with living in a complex civilised society (we are not as evolved as we think we are).

Unfortunately, we as an industry have provided the masses with a handy label to attach to anything and everything that prevents people from doing as they please.

The labels that humans use are words, those words are;

"Health & Safety"

The media is fully aware of this human condition and uses it to it's maximum potential.

Sure, people pigeon hole things and we provided them with a postal address.

Clairel, in my experience these people aren't "safety" officials (although many of them are in positions of responsibility) and neither are they particularly zealous. Rather, they tend to be poor decision makers who do not have the wit intellegence or courage of their own convictions to justify or stand by any decision they make. Hence the scapegoat knee-jerk of "health and safety regulations".

We are all clear that "elf'n'safety" is essentially about myth.
I think we as a profession also need to be making the point loudly and clearly that the "over-zealous safety official" is also essentially a myth.

Case in point being the Murray Mound issue discussed in the article. We here have absolutely no idea what the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis people actually said or who their "safety people" actually are. We, the article, and the HSE comments therein are essentially discussing Red-Top generated hearsay (i.e .myth) and spin. We all need to avoid falling into the same trap time and again.

Sadly I have come across over zealpous safety officials and so I wouldn't say they are a myth - although I agree that they are poor decison makers.

My personal view on all of this and fellow safety professionals I come in contact with is that we have some very tough times ahead with this goverment and their view on H&S in the wokplace. We think that when the captains of industry realise what they can and cannot do regarding H&S , there will be less jobs and what jobs are out there these will be more closly looked at. I certainly would not like to be young and starting out in this industry, and certainly would'nt be advising anyone close to me to go into this world. Just our thoughts

Some good and positive contributions, especially by our professor emeritus - Safety Smurf :)

Part of the problem is that society wants thrills but without the spills. The moment something goes askew and someone gets hurt the old maxim applies - no claim without blame. This in turn leads to 'knee jerk' reactions leading to risk averse attitudes. It's not just confined to know nothing jobsworths. Sadly there are many people in this profession who prefer to choose the soft option.