As I’m unemployed I thought I would go to a local jobs fair, to be told on arrival that I had to fill in a form for Health and Safety reasons. Unfortunately after starting to complete the forms I failed to see the relevance to H&S. - Was I a migrant? - Could I speak Welsh ( I’m in South Wales and not many speak Welsh as their first language in my particular area). - Have I lived in the UK for over 3 years? - Was I a gypsy, Romany or Traveller? - What benefits was I on - Did I have any convictions? - Was I getting pensions credit? - Was It ok to pass my details onto others (mandatory – no opt out) There were two sides of A4 of these and similar questions. Whose health and safety, mine or theirs do you think these questions would protect, considering the first supposed employer I could see through the door was the Army. We weren’t allowed to know who was in the room unless we signed the form. We wonder why H&S has a bad name, but having just sat in a room full of people winging about filling out this H&S information, It’s not hard to understand why. I suspect it was a requirement of the Welsh Government and needed for funding reasons, but why not say that (I may have even completed the form). I admit my blood is still boiling as it was only 30 minutes ago, but does this practice seem reasonable to others and I’m being overly awkward ?

" Is this a Friday funny?" No unfortunately, but free to turn it into one (feel slightly better after my rant). I admit I was not seeing the funny side when I walked out (still not to be honest). In fact, please someone start a funny thread. Chris

I agree with Chris42's sentiments about people being required to complete forms when "health & safety" is quoted as a spurious reason for doing so. As David Bannister suggests, one way of dealing with nonsensical forms is to respond with nonsense. One method is to give a spoof name with your actual address and then wait to see if anyone actually bothers to use the information and for what purpose. Very occasionally when no address was required I've completed a form and given my name as "Mickey Mouse", and nobody seemed to notice. Also, years ago when I lived in Scotland and visited chemist shops to buy methylated spirits (meths) for lighting my primus stove, it was obligatory to sign a register with my name, address and reason for purchase. Sometimes I made up scientific looking words to give as my reason, and was slightly disappointed but not surprised that nobody ever queried them. Out of curiosity (and with apologies for a slight deviation from the main thread), please can anyone advise if signing a register still a legal requirement when buying meths nowadays in Scotland - or are alcoholic drinks so cheap now that nobody with an alcohol dependency would even consider buying meths to drink?

Organised by "bridges to work" and has the Local authority and Welsh government logo on the top. It was held at the local adult learning centre which is part of the collage. I admit I was tempted after being asked on the form could I speak Welsh / read Welsh and answering NO, to answer the next question which was "Preferred language of learning - English or Welsh" to put Welsh. Especially as I was not there on any form of training course. PS there was someone checking the form was completed properly including your national insurance number !.

Not only is the information requested nothing to do with H&S I cannot see what relevance it has to anything. It could be construed as being personal data and as such should not be held by any organisation unless they have good reason. The question on convictions is likely to be a breach of the rehabilitation of offenders act and as to the ethnicity questions, well any government sponsored questionnaire always leaves the option of leaving that question blank. If you included these questions on a job application form you would be in big trouble. This is just rubbish.

That's be a good idea, Chris might suggest they could use a H&S Adviser?