Barb's Wire: OTT health and safety
Cheltenham councillor Barbara Driver's weekly column:
WHEN Health and Safety was introduced in the workplace, it was surly overdue and needed. It is also good for those in authority to make sure the public and their workforce are not in undue danger, but have we overdone it I wonder?
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Barbara Driver
It is not helped by the constant advertisements on the TV for people to claim compensation for all manner of things. This has resulted with many an organisation, public and private, going OTT about Health and Safety. Perhaps we should also advertise how you need to take a little personal responsibility sometimes in a situation.
The insurance companies have had to increase their fees because of a huge increase in claims, so all who have insurance, both private and public, are picking up the bill.
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Some schools have banned playing conkers as children might get hurt. Others say they can only play if they wear protective glasses. Protecting children while in school and at play is most essential but let them be children at the same time. Planting bulbs under trees, which used to happen, does not anymore as the person putting them in might hit a tree root and damage their wrists.
When I offered to help to get rid of the dead plants at the Municipal Offices, which had been there for some time, I was not allowed to because of Health and Safety. All I was going to do is open the windows and remove the dead plants from the window boxes.
At least no one tried to stop me from helping a gentleman last week in case I hurt myself. At the Cenotaph, while honouring our servicemen and women, I helped a gentleman who was there to remember the fallen that he had fought beside in the Second World War.
This gentleman was a prisoner of war with the Japanese. He wore his medals with pride and told me about comrades, one of who is named on the memorial. Now disabled, registered blind and in his 90s, he was determined to be there to show his respect.
He needed help because his wheelchair had been stolen from outside Morrison's. How low can someone get?
I trust the new police commissioner will make sure the police can get on with their job of catching criminals and protecting the public instead of having to do so much paperwork.
Comments
by JASB999
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 9:02AM
“@Mikehibby & others, I wish I still had a copy but in the school letter there was a paragraph stating that conkers was banned on H&S grounds.
I know there are myths around H&S, what this environment has caused is fear, uncertainty and doubt. This has led some people, like our headteacher, to take decisions like banning conkers.”
by Dr_Hfrrrrr
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 1:25PM
“JASB999 - which school is it? I'll happily ring them to check, but I don't need to because I know that if they have banned conkers it will be to stop kids chucking them around or bullying/theft of conkers etc. It most certainly will NOT be because of H&S.”
by Takeaway22
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 1:20PM
“by JASB999 - What school is that? Worth looking at this website: http://tinyurl.com/3agpwdy”
by mikehibby
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 1:18PM
“by JASB999Tuesday, November 20 2012, 12:30PM
"Sorry GL52 and Dr_Hfrrrr it isn't an urban myth. My son's school don't allow conkers because of H&S. Very sad..."
This won't be the case. Your son's school may have banned conkers, but it won't be because of H&S. All they do is advise on risk, they don't ban anything. The school will have taken the decision themselves, probably because they don't the hassle from over litigious parents.”
by Hubert1841
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 1:05PM
“Well, even b1nt is being censored now.”
by Hubert1841
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 1:04PM
“Can't someone buy this mad old **** a DVD boxed set of The Last of the Summer Wine and a bottle of sherry (or two), and quietly ship her off to an asylum/nursing home somewhere?”
by JASB999
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 12:30PM
“Sorry GL52 and Dr_Hfrrrr it isn't an urban myth. My son's school don't allow conkers because of H&S. Very sad...”
by he-devil
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 12:19PM
“Barbara Drivel”
by mikehibby
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 11:42AM
“Barbara Driver is a great example of why we need brighter, younger people in local council. She's completely out of touch and just regurgitates what she's read in the daily mail, with the addition of some "look at me, I done good" thrown in.
Rather than just spout about it, what is she actually doing about it??”
by Dr_Hfrrrrr
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 10:59AM
“'Some schools have banned playing conkers as children might get hurt' - no they haven't.
'Others say they can only play if they wear protective glasses' - no they haven't.
'Planting bulbs under trees...does not happen anymore as the person putting them in might hit a tree root and damage their wrists' - Where has this happened? Who has said this not allowed?
Come on Babs, show us the evidence and send us links to the legislation you seem to know very well. Oh...unless of course this article is yet another of your out of touch, irrelevant, 'me me me' articles of random, unconnected drivel with no relevance to anything and no basis in fact or reality...? Unless....the ex-POW wasn't from New York by any chance was he?”