Colleagues

What are your thoughts on the recent advice from the Dorset Police Volunteers (see links below) and the recent IOSH article?

https://www.ioshmagazine.com/article/motorists-warned-against-driving-in-lanyards-as-they-can-cause-serious-injury

https://www.facebook.com/DorsetPoliceVolunteers/posts/safety-messagethere-have-been-a-couple-of-serious-traffic-accidents-of-note-not-/413308496086350/

In a similar train of thought, soldiers in Afghan/Iraq used to have pens, scissors, knives etc on the front of their body armour for ease of access. But when they initiated an IED these useful items then became high speed shrapnel and caused more injurys to the face, neck head. Wasn't long before the powers that be informed everyone to remove these items and eith place them in pockets or in the side pouches.

So I can fully understand where this story is coming from. Also pains me to see people driving down the motorway with the passengers resting their feet on the dash.

This hit the members forum at the start of the month

There appear to be two single events decribed - one where the lanyard affected the drivers lung and another where keys on the lanyard perforated the drivers bowel

There does appear to be one refernce originating in November 2018 https://safety.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ALT307-Access-Pass-on-Lanyard1.0.pdf

Or is it all a marketing scam to sell unecessary signage https://www.safetysigns4less.co.uk/Safety-Signs/Hazard-Specific-Signs/Vehicle-Safety-Signs/Do-Not-Wear-Lanyards-When-Driving-Portrait

Perhaps its trhe wrong header in referring to lanyards.  Typically they are a tug-safe soft mylon material with a single pass card.  Not a bunch of keys, 3-4 pass cards, and a host of other things.  yes something went wrong and perhaps the analysis is flawed and just a media headline for the ast majoirty to those who have a lanyard, phone holder, pass card or whatever in a pocket, jacket etc on the front of the body from the wasit upwards. As yet we haven't seen a photo of a similar setup that were involved in the two incidents. Its an interesting scenario but perhaps a little more info would have been less reactionary and perhaps more reflective and responsive. as things on a driver or passengers body that may aggravate an injury, perhaps a single pass card on a lanyard is not the highest on a list of options

Originally Posted by: AcornsConsult

Typically they are a tug-safe soft mylon material with a single pass card.  Not a bunch of keys, 3-4 pass cards, and a host of other things.

Just passed a local college where several of the lecturers appear to entering some form of carrying competition as to how much they can attach to their id lanyard - pen, scissors!, whistle...

https://www.shponline.co.uk/road-safety/employers-advised-to-warn-staff-of-the-potential-danger-of-wearing-a-lanyard-whilst-driving/

Never let facts get in the way

I knew a football referee who had an accident when a football ricocheted off his chest taking the whistle up with it into his face. It made a right mess of his chin. Just saying.

Never said the implausible cannot happen - many TV production companies make a decent living from the videos of such events  - what we are seeing with this "story" is the development of the myth where if it is said often enough from many unchecked sources all citing each other.... particularly where the publication would normally be considered professional rather than a traditional red top.