Posted By CFT
Seeing the cup of tea thread earlier, and not wishing to hijack it; it reminded me of something that took place in my home town last week that I felt was worth sharing.


We (her Ladyship and I) took an almost new well know pram into a well known charity shop last week to see if they would like it; "sorry darlin" came the stern reply, "we can't take fings like that due to health & safety regulations". "Oh cripes, which ones" I asked, with my wife speaking loudly enough to be heard to say, "just don't start, perlease".

"Its the health an safety for children Act 199ty something or other, and the charity ave adopted a policy to follow this Act to the letter".

At this point most of us would just give up and move on, but no! I felt this was worth exploring further (must have been because I was dragged out shopping) "May I ask where you received the information on regarding this particular Act as I have some knowledge all-be-it clearly insufficient"?

"Yes dear, we have professional conservatents (I think she meant consultants, but it made me smile) who advise us on all ealth an safety Acts an things and the charity have followed it to the letter which is why I can't take the pram from you"!

"OK then, sorry to have troubled you and walked across the road to another well known charity to ask again....."Oh no we can't", came the response. "Oh for goodness sake, I suppose because of ridiculous health & safety laws then" (in a loud enough voice for all to turn round and gaze at me in a fairly crowded shop)

"Oh certainly not dear, there is enough bad press on that lot already, WE SIMPLY HAVEN'T GOT THE ROOM!"

On that note, I was quietly but firmly ejected from the shop by my dear wife, who's face reddened with every step; one minute later we stopped (having not spoken for all that one minute, [I didn't like to interrupt]during the what seemed a march to the third shop; "WAIT HERE" she said; 20 seconds later she returned with no pram lecturing me on how not to rub people up the wrong way; "hmmpf, they were absolutely delighted with the pram" she said.

"But it was the incorrect and obviously inaccurate health & safety referencing that got to me".

"I dare say it was" she shouted; "But don't start on it when we are out, I have enough of it Monday to Friday with all the 'tut tuts' when you read the paper, or the moans when they include health and safety on the news, or when you read your magazines, so stop bringing your work home and to bed, so I don't want to hear about health and safety stories whilst reading a good book, are we clear"?

"Yes d,d,d,ear.

And all I wanted was to give a brand new pram away to a charity;-(

Charley

Posted By Tabs
CFT I know the frustration though, I really do ... I have mates who genuinely understand. So they generally move past the offence quickly and distract my attention :-)

Posted By steve e ashton
Charley:

Exactly WHAT bit of your work have you been taking to bed?

Fall arrest harness combined with some neoprene thermals and Respiratory Protective Equipment, PVC gloves, defibrilator.....eeeeewwwwwww....

Sorry, but the mind shrivels and shrinks from the imagery...

Steve

Posted By CFT
Bill

Interesting! Then as the Wheeled Child Conveyances (Safety) Regulations 1997 specifically make reference to BS 4139, as amended by Amendment Slips No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, published on 4th December 1970, 14th February 1972, 3rd September 1974, 30th June 1976 and 31st March 1978 respectively, & BS 4792, as amended 31st March 1987 and 28th February 1990 respectively; plus of course BS 7409 as amended 15th November 1996 they actually become part of said regulations.

Well thank you for clearing that one up for me Bill and again fancy me not knowing all that;-)

Steve

That sadly would be my copy of SHP;-)))

Charley

Posted By CFT
All

I thought it best to add it wasn't our perambulator (see I'm old too) it was my beloved Daughter who (hold your breath) says she has finished with it! Yes Ma & Pa bought it, and it was used about 6 times;-(

Totally agree with you Graham on the electrical items, no argument from this quarter! "Yes dear I am on the IOSH forums, and yes I will sit down in a minute to keep you company". (No peace for the wicked, must go).

Charley

Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Glad to note you did a risk assesment on the spot and decided to continue was a risk to far then, good man (or mousze should that be) By the way I'd have done exactly the same with her in doors having a stronger right fist than me.

Posted By Arran Linton - Smith
Charley,

If I had heard this story from any one else, I would have though this was another one of those elf-en-safety urban myths, which are doing the rounds at the moment, however even I feel that this is “Health and Safety (sorry risk aversion) gone completely mad.

The Wheeled Child Conveyances (Safety) Regulations 1997 certainly does prohibit the second hand sale of a pram and the trading standards link appears to give advise on a good commonsense process for checking the product before resale.

I suspect the real reason for this policy is that someone has told the charity that this legislation has potentially created an opportunity for litigation, however the charity has not assessed the actual risk.

Ironically the reverse aspect of this risk is properly greater on the principle that one should not look a gift horse in the mouth. Once word of this story gets around a community the risk is that donations and sales simply go down with its credibility.

Posted By Safety officer
Exactly the same thing happened to me with our pram and baby walker.

My hubby walked out of the shop when I started, basically just told the old dear that it was nothing to do with 'elf and safety' just your lot scared of getting sued.

Only later I thought I was a bit harsh, she was only repeating what she'd been told and she was volunteering her free time to man the shop.

Felt a bit guilty so went back the next day and bought a blue and white dish for a fiver. Turns out its worth a few bob as its 150 year old!