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TUC busts health and safety myths

Schools banning conkers, safety inspectors banning ladders, acrobats being forced to wear helmets and councils banning St George’s flags are just some of the health and safety ‘myths’ highlighted in a new report by the TUC.

To coincide with European Health and Safety Week (23 - 27 October) the TUC has published a report correcting 14 false and exaggerated myths and saying that they undermine the important role health and safety regulation plays in protecting people’s health and well-being.

“Health and safety myths show that popular examples of health and safety gone mad are not down to bad safety law but are either untrue or down to the way that local schools or councils interpret the regulations. Employers will also often use ‘health and safety’ as an excuse for not doing something which they didn’t want to do anyway or to save money,” says the report.

Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, said: “Myths about ‘killer conkers’ and banning ladders undermine the whole concept of health and safety in the public’s eyes. They perpetuate a false picture of Britain as a risk-averse country wrapped in cotton wool with a compensation culture gone haywire.

“Some employers, and others, are using health and safety as an excuse for making stupid decisions, but health and safety regulation in the UK is not out of control. “The UK today has sensible and practical health and safety laws and we have half as many as we did 35 years ago. But because too many employers are ignoring them and not taking proper care of their staff two million people in the UK are suffering from ill-health as a result of their work.”

All of the myths in the TUC report can be seen by visiting an online quiz on workSMART, the TUC’s working life website.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .