London - Safety myths in which knives were supposedly banned in kitchens and umbrellas banned in the rain have been debunked by the Government's health and safety watchdog.
The Health and Safety Executive's so-called “myth-buster” panel was established this year to expose the incorrect applications of regulations that led to public complaints.
Judith Hackitt, its chairwoman, said the time and money spent on these “ridiculous edicts” undermined the executive's real purpose: to reduce the number of people made ill, injured or killed by their work.
TRAY TRAINING
The Claim
Carrying a drinks tray from pub bar to table is just too dangerous for those without adequate training
The Truth
Tim Banister, 35, from Hampshire, was told he could not carry a drinks tray in the pub as a new rule meant “specialist training” was required. “It was embarrassing but also laughable to be told I wasn't to be trusted with a tray,” the occupational adviser said. The HSE said no regulations governed the carrying of drinks trays - something people are likely to do in their own home.
A NURSE NEEDLED
The Claim
Paediatric nurse Maggie Croall was not allowed to buy knitting needles from a charity shop on health and safety grounds.
The Truth
No regulations apply to the sale of knitting needles. The charity shop in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, has been urged to “come clean” as to the real reason it will not sell knitting needles.
“Shop assistants just fob you off with the health and safety excuse for everything. Often they answer from the top of their heads,” Ms Croall said.
NOT SO SHARP
The Claim
A Cambridgeshire public hall said knives were too dangerous for the kitchen.
The Truth
John Bull brought the “daft decision” to the attention of the HSE who ruled the knife ban was neither sensible nor proportionate. It said no laws existed to ban knives from their “natural home”. Bull said: “I knew straight away it was a crackers decision.”
ALTITUDE ATTITUDE
The Claim
An airline refused to give boiled sweets for passengers to suck to equalise air pressure as they posed a risk to children.
The Truth
Both the HSE and the Civil Aviation Authority were astounded by the airline's “flight of fancy”. Sandra Scott, 46, a company director from Kingston, Surrey, was told children could choke on the boiled sweets. Scott said: “I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It may just be the airline wanted to save money on sweets.”
BATTER BITS BANNED
The Claim
Health and safety prevents fish and chip shops selling customers those sought-after “batter scraps”.
The Truth
The chippie in Dagenham, east London, had previously offered batter scraps, which are a tradition in the North-East. But part-time lifeguard Geoff Wade, 29, was told he could not have them on safety grounds. The HSE said the chip shop had used a “lazy excuse”. Wade said: “Despite the server sieving out fresh scraps from the same fryer the fish came out of, they wouldn't serve me them.”
NHS NANNYING
The Claim
NHS Manchester issued an edict banning all metal paper clips after a member of staff cut their finger.
The Truth
HSE said it would strongly encourage a “proportional” approach by the NHS trust. One member of staff said: “I can only assume top brass think that they're employed idiots who need nannying.”
SOAKED BUT SAFE
The Claim
Taking umbrellas to an outdoor pop concert, where rain was likely, was a safety risk.
The Truth
The decision to ban umbrellas at a JLS concert in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, in August saw fans drenched for two hours. One fan, Paige Taylor, said when she woke the next morning she could not speak or swallow and was put on antibiotics for a week. The HSE said: “If umbrellas really were a health and safety risk they would need to be banned in busy high streets and the like.”
DANGER AT SCHOOL
The Claim
Traditional conker matches between schoolchildren are banned as they represent a safety risk.
The Truth
No legislation outlaws skipping, playing conkers or climbing trees. HSE said they were “important activities” that helped children learn and the “sooner they are exposed to risk” the sooner they will learn to deal with it. A survey found that almost one-sixth of schools banned conker matches over safety fears. - The Independent