Posted By Bill Morrison
The moderators have pulled this discussion while they discuss the content etc, not sure how long it takes to do this?

I would suggest this is a perfectly reasonable discussion and the sort of real life issue we should be able to discuss freely without offending anyone , or the politically correct police stepping in.

Rant Over

Posted By Jay Joshi
As I did not view the removed responses, I cannot comment about those.

I personally do not feel offended about such matters, but occasionally, responses can be perceived as insulting to a particular group, especially if it goes beyond the health & safety merits.

Having worked with a local authority in the past, if you do not provide a service, there must be an extremely good reason. In general terms, health and safety is a good reason, but without knowing the details of "why" , I am afraid it is extremely difficult to comment on it.

I had also contributed to the Mosque thread some months ago.

In several eastern religions/faiths,( I specifically refer to Hinduism ) there are customs and beliefs that have carried on that may have been relevant at that time in history centuries & decades ago, but we would find it strange now.

My own grandparent generation (born in very early 1900's) would perhaps do the same, i.e not permit shoes, especailly anything leather in any room that has a worship area. My parents were different and I do not practice any of it as I am pragmatic.

It perhaps made sense in those times not to transmit the "dirt" from the shoes as hygiene standards were different & medical prevention by vaccines etc was non-existent. So, it is more of a "clean" and "unclean" issue than anything else and in most cases, at least for the hindu community, this can be easily resolved.

Normally, it is a place of worship,where shoes(leather)are not permitted. It is strange that this refers to a residential property.

Posted By M Forbes
This was exactly my point in my posts (which were removed)

This nation is so worried about offending these religious groups that censorship is being put in place, laws are being allowed to be ignored by these groups, and pleasing these minority groups now becomes more important than pleasing the majority because not addressing the minroity groups views could appear to be racist!. . . .

Britains going crazy and this is just Political Correctness gone wrong

Posted By Pete48
I agree that we should be able to discuss any matters relating to safety in a professional manner. But that is the point, a professional manner. There is a clearly an apparent conflict between a safe system of work and a personal, in this case religious, belief in the case that started the thread.
If our discussion is limited to helping to resolve that conflict through exchanging ideas on how to reach a workable position that is acceptable to both sides; then I support that. If it is to promulgate views and opinions about the application of diversity and equality in our society, that is not relevant IMHO and should quite rightly be removed from this forum.

Posted By AlisonSM
They could have removed the posts deemed "offensive" and left the rest. I offered a sensible suggestion - the workman should have explained why the boots were necessary then had a look at the work to be done. If he then felt that it would have been dangerous to proceed, he could have sought help from head office and refused to continue (explaining again to the householder why he was not willing to proceed). I think a lack of communication was the main issue here..

Posted By GARRY WIZZ
Thats one hell of a request, How about we all go to our MD's and say , when you come to work please can leave your opinion of elf&sfety at home and just comply with the law.

We should on this forum stick with the subject tittle. How ever if religion is the root of the problem the answer must address the issue.

However as is the way of this country, we are petrified to go near the subject, see how IOSH has pulled the topic. Prejudice is denied and hidden.

It is not for IOSH to sort out this racial mess but the problem is that no one is willing to have a go. So to mind IOSH may as well just be up front and state what it actions will be as demonstrated by this topic.

Any question that is connected to race / religion or illicit replys that may refer to race religion shall be eradicated.

Posted By Lilian McCartney
I agree the point of the thread is valid, however, some comments included things like 'our laws' implying not only religious but racist bigotry as well. It perhaps didn't mean to read like that but it did. Being a sikh doesn't necessarily mean that 'our laws' aren't 'their laws' cos who knows where you're from and it shouldn't matter anyway.

Who knows where anyone was born, you can follow any religion with freedom in the UK, isn't this good? It doesn't mean you can break any 'laws' and I owuld expect the vast majority of people would agree (always being someone who doesn't).

The implications in some of the posts were getting a bit offensive and I think the moderators were correct to pull until they can get the chance to discuss.

Posted By John J
The issue did not need to mention religion. The topic could easily have been dealt with by saying a housholder has refused to let workman in wearing boots, what would be the next step.
It doesn't matter whether its religious, new carpets or second tuesday in the month.
I'm buying a new build house and have recently had carpets fitted. The sparks and plumber have taken their shoes off to do some of the snagging jobs. Strangely its not making the front pages...

Posted By Bob Thompson CMIOSH

I did not view the post concerned but I would make the following observations.
we frequently get home helps being asked to remove shoes before entering houses in order to keep the carpets clean, we do not allow this for moving and handling reasons ( the politically correct term for manual handling people). people frequently site freedom of choice and my home my rules even human rights. our stance is that it is every one's human right to return from work in at least the same condition as they were when they started. after all accidents are not driven by race colour or creed I sometimes think that this basic principal is lost in translation, and too often people may well decline to make decisions or take action because of accusations of discrimination.

Health and safety is porbably the most politicaly correct function of any society it endevours to safeguard everyone.

Bob







Bob

Posted By jom
Throughout Asia, it is customary to leave street shoes at the front door of homes. It's a clean, respectful and pleasant custom.

John.