Posted By Merv Newman
Not on this forum, but did anyone notice where a mother confused Health and Safety with Paedophilia ? (replies to the one-show on the gardener)

Comments ?

Merv

Posted By MT
Absolutely! She's not the only one either. Someone told me that the nursery they send their child to is refusing to put on sun lotion because of good old elf'n'safety innit?

I explained that there are no H&S regulations which would prevent the application of sun lotion to children by qualified nursery staff. In fact, if I inspected a nursery which was refusing to apply sun lotion to children and was taking them outdoors in the sun, I'd be less than impressed. I also explained to them that the Care Commission, to the best of my knowledge, would not oppose the application of sun lotion.

Surely if a person is unfit to apply sun lotion to the parts of a child uncovered by their clothes - face, arms, legs etc, then they are unfit to work with children full stop, and you wouldn't leave your child with them?

The things H&S gets the blame for! [rolls eyes]

We really do need to encourage people to challenge employers, service providers and anyone else who will blame H&S in a move to get out of doing something and as Merv says, ask them to show the written risk assessment that says it is a risk to a child's health and/or safety to have sun lotion applied, or to have someone else put butter on their baked tattie.

Did anyone else also note that on the One Show website, the story claimed that a roads officer had highlighted the issue of the woman tending to the roadside flowers, however the story had mutated by the time they were asking for feedback, where they claimed that a H&S Inspector was demanding signage?

Posted By MT
"Teachers, carers are forbidden "inappropriate contact" (can't cuddle a crying child) as this may lead to accusations of paedophilia. (would you approve of an unknown supply teacher stroking sun cream into your child's bare bits ?)"

Well, if I was sending my child to a nursery, I would want the staff to apply sun lotion to my child rather than them get burned or be kept indoors. After all, they may well be changing their nappy several times a day and also taking them to the toilet. How is applying sun lotion any different or worse?

"On the application of suncream to children I would suggest that they be encouraged to apply it to each other at the start of each break. Buddy system. No touching by teacher. "

I can't agree with you there. I visit several nurseries and all ask permission from the children's parents for sun lotion to be applied, parents give written consent and supply the bottle of sun lotion with the child's name on it. Some of the children are months old - what age of child would apply sun lotion to them? All these nurseries are inspected by the Care Commission who have responsibility for nurseries in Scotland, and the CC feel that applying sun lotion is an appropriate activity for a nursery carer.

Posted By MT
All the nurseries within my area ask the parents to supply the bottle of sun lotion with the child's name on it. That prevents cross-contamination, and should also rule out allergic reactions if it is the sun lotion the parents normally apply to their child.

I'm baffled as to why anyone sending their child to a day nursery wouldn't want the staff applying sun lotion, when they are NVQ trained and also Disclosure checked professionals.

Posted By Crim
Sun cream, surely children should be wearing appropriate clothing, hat, sleeves etc. and only require cream on the arms legs and face?

Cuddles, are allowed if "side on" and not full frontal, preferably with another person present as a witness. All kids need some TLC at some time and it would be unfair not to, but with care

Posted By Merv Newman
Everybody,

Actually there were about six people with very sensible informative responses. We can all understand the questions of allergies and the requirement for "side-on" cuddles (never heard that one before)

But the question was : "how does H&S become confused with paedophilia" ?

Merv

Posted By Stephen D. Clarke
I think the confusion arises because when parents are told they or their children can't do something, such as take photographs at a sports day or play conkers without goggles, elf&safety or paedophilia are the two reasons usually given or just guessed at and parents feel that its not possible to argue with officialdom against this; despite the fact that such measures are seen by all as completely OTT.