Rank: Super forum user 
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Read this story (yes its in the sun)
http://www.thesun.co.uk/...alth-and-safety-row.html
Now apart from the fact that the Sun as per usual has told the story in such a way that it shows the company sacked the driver on H&S grounds for eating a single grape, which if you read the story isn't the case, he was sacked for eating whilst driving a bus, which to me is fair (and yes chances are there were other things behind it too).
Read the comments that people have left. It really is shocking.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thought we would have had more of a kicking from the people that replied to the story - not as bad as I envisaged so I am a little grapeful.
Obviously there was more to it than just the grape.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I just read the article (not my regular news paper I must add) and I notice that the driver concerned is 66 years old, had a heart bypass operation last year and is under medication which tastes quite nasty so he eat something after to relieve the taste left by it. The bus was not in service as it was waiting for its timetable and he says he brushed his face when he was leaving to start his trip. It seems the bus company whanted to shed some drivers and saw this as one they could get rid of without having to pay out anything in compensation. There could of course be some other facts about the case that have not been published, but the employer is alledged to have used H&S as the reason rather than using perhaps the company's normal dicipline process because they would not have been able to sack the driver if he had not been disciplined before. Just one of those chancer things that the Sun often reports or half reports on.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I wonder if this could be a case for the HSE 'myths' challenge panel to deal with...or will only softer issues be deemed appropriate?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Sounds like a possible for discrimination under EQA 2010 to me!!
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Rank: Forum user 
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Wonder if the people who were anti H&S would have had a different view if the story said Driver sacked for eating a grape - Then the story unfolds that he had a few grapes in the cab drops the last one and leans over to get it- swerves the bus as hes doing it - Bus turns over 3 people killed and several injured. - Or the report on the Bus Crash in Swtzerland gets publised in 3 months and hey ho the Grape is the prime cause. People are so fickle about any response to a storyline! Next to Tax men we must be the most hated profession in the UK.
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Rank: Forum user
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Steve,
I could not agree more. Well said and well done for saying it!
Regards
Clive
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Rank: Forum user
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there are some remarkable similarities between safety and tax. Both subjects are heavily bound by regulations and rules and unless you're a 'safety academic' (or an accountant) the detail behind the subject is of absolutely no interest to anyone.
It only becomes an issue at budget time, or when someone is seeking an injury claim!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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steveeckersley wrote:... Next to Tax men we must be the most hated profession in the UK.
I hadn't even thought of taxmen! I am too busy trying to differentiate my chosen profession from recruitment consultants and estate agents!
Back to the story. It looks to be the latest in a bunch (sic) of offences that the driver has allegedly committed. Perhaps it is not in the Sun's interest to tell the whole story
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Rank: Super forum user
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Front page news?
Quote:
"This incident followed a series of official warnings issued to the driver regarding his safety standards"
Revised headline:
"Bus Driver axed following a series of official warnings"
Hey presto - no interesting story!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Bob
'Gross misconduct', after a series of warnings, trumps age discrimination.
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