I find it interesting that the panel have referred to the old 'common sense' nugget in their response to the question in the link below. http://www.hse.gov.uk/my...2012/case035-bunting.htm In the education sector, we try and discourage standing on chairs and in the HSE's own guidance they support this. But now I fear that I am a serial 'kill-joy' ! Example of HSE guidance = http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/schoolsfall.pdf

Well the HSE's document does not really say anything as far as I can tell, although the wording subtly implies that office furniture is suitable. Is sitting on the fence dangerous for your credibility or just an urban myth?

The HSE document does state the following "Always use suitable equipment for working at height, eg ‘kick-step’ type stools, properly designed and maintained low steps, poles for opening high windows etc. Your school should have this sort of equipment. If you still can’t reach without overstretching, ask for help from a premises manager." It is also only one of many publications and their classroom checklist also indicates the need to use adequate access equipment. Sitting on the fence could result in serious health and safety issues but sitting on a panel appears to me to be a cosy little number. I wonder how much they are getting paid in these days of austerity?

I bet quite a lot of forum users like me have used simple four legged chairs from time to time in order to gain some height for transient tasks especially if stepladders or similar device aren't readily available. Moreover, I'll make the same bet about standing on desks and tables. Surely the advisability or otherwise of using chairs, etc depends on their strength, design and stability. By contrast standing on a swivelling office chair at any time is downright daft. Also, for offices and other work places which have false ceilings comprising panels supported by horizontal lattice frames, don't bother with attaching bunting, Christmas tinsel or other decorations, etc to light fittings. try bending paper clips to form simple hooks which can be fitted between the panels and frames in order to hold decorations suspended from them. This improvised arrangement also has the advantage that when the decorations need to be removed, nobody needs to go up again to access them. Instead 2 poles can be used by one or two people standing on the floor, i.e. one pole is used to push a panel upwards while the other is used to displace any improvised hook which has been inserted over the frame beneath it.

Flimsy, spineless, woolly, and a waste of time! Maybe someone like Simon Cowell needs to be on the panel. Tell it how it is HSE.... or risk losing any remaining credibility.

Me too! The whole thing will either end in tears or quietly die.

Dear Forum users Please could the Moderating team remind you of the following forum rule: "Please respect individuals. You mustn’t use the forums to make complaints against any individual or organisation. We’re not trying to stifle debate but to protect IOSH from being accused of encouraging unwarranted attacks on others. Discussion about comments made by public figures on health and safety topics may be allowed at the discretion of the moderators.". You may not agree with how the panel are handling these cases, but please refrain from attacking them. To what extent is the panel the mouthpiece of the HSE on these matters? Moderator Team

As the poster of this one I acknowledge the Moderator's comments and it probably was a bit amiss to aim too much criticism towards the challenge panel. I just felt / feel that we should be doing something more constructive. I will make a start and share a case that I use frequently. SoS mentioned common sense and I agree that it is a very difficult concept to measure. In my discussions with non h & s people it certainly means different things to different people. To show that common sense is not always applied in day to day life, I use the case details below as ameans of highlighting this. Hope it is helpful. http://www.shponline.co....by-repeat-skylight-falls