HSE Great health and safety myths calendar 2010

[Big Daz]

LTB 109/10 -HSE Great health and safety myths calendar 2010


A compilation of HSE's Myth of the Month cartoons have been brought together and published in the HSE 2010 'Great Health and Safety Myths Calendar' available in both a spiral bound desk version and A3 Wall Calendar.
'Health and safety' banning everything from ladders to school trips have become a familiar headline in certain national and local newspapers, in particular the Daily Mail, but the stories are rarely true. The HSE Myth of the Month Calendar cartoons are both funny, but importantly show how misleading stories can distract people from the serious business of managing real health and safety risks sensibly. The calendar highlights how ridiculous most of the so-called 'elf 'n safety' tabloid tales are, and gives details of the reality for each situation portrayed.
The so-called 'elf 'n safety' tabloid tales began with totally discredited "bonkers-conkers' story in October 2004 and have continued on and off since then. Tory leader Dave Cameron attempted to "re-heat" or revive this five year old, dated and discredited story in December 2009 when he said "I think we'd all concede that something has gone seriously wrong with the spirit of health and safety in the past decade when children are made to wear goggles by their overzealous headteacher to play conkers".

Shaun Halfpenny the headteacher concerned at the time said in response to Cameron's rant "I was that head. However, the conker story was a myth. I never banned conkers. I allowed the game to take place". He added that "Cameron points the finger but it was largely during the Thatcher and Major Conservative administrations that the health and safety culture was brought to bear in schools".

As Halfpenny rightly agreed, "Cameron was merely trying to curry favour with Daily Mail readers, and did not have children's safety at heart. Cameron of course will never have to knock on a front door and explain to parents that their child has been injured or killed on a school activity!"

The HSE calendar interestingly collates many of these myths around health and safety - a range of activities that are so treasured by the enemies of occupational safety protection for workers that they're willing to stretch the truth, or just make things up. These mythical stories about health and safety have been chronologically arranged neatly together and summarily debunked by the Health and Safety Executive in the Calendar reminding yourself and colleagues that none of this stuff is true.

More recent articles consisting of health and safety myths were that the HSE banned science experiments in the classroom, the HSE warned that people clearing pavements during snow and icy conditions were in danger of being sued under health and safety legislation and that the HSE banned a Village fete - ALL UNTRUE. Others were - mortarboard-throwing banned at graduations, hanging baskets banned, earplugs mandatory at rock concerts (these are all myths to remember)
The HSE had to issue a statement during the recent adverse weather to the effect

"The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) would like to make it clear that under health and safety legislation nobody who volunteers to support their community by clearing pavements during icy conditions should feel they are in danger of being sued. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) encourages a common sense approach to health and safety. HSE said they think it is ridiculous that people should feel prevented from helping others, through a fear of being held responsible for an accident. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it encourages a common sense approach to health and safety, adding that they think it is ridiculous that people should feel prevented from helping others, through a fear of being held responsible for an accident. The HSE is very grateful to all people, neighbours and local shopkeepers who cleared the snow - repeatedly - from pavements."

Cameron has been playing an elaborate double game, in which he makes dim-witted, saloon-bar arguments to voters on health and safety whilst giving a knowing, wink to supporters.

Health and Safety legislation is aimed at protecting workers from workplace hazards. Against the background of the Tories planned massive public spending cuts that will hit workers hard, Cameron is obviously taking their crowd-pleasing where he can find it.

Great Health and Safety Myths Calendar 2010 - A3 size Wall Calendar - £5.00
Great Health and Safety Myths Calendar 2010 - Spiral bound desk Calendar - £5.00
Available from HSE Books who can be contacted as follows:
Telephone:
+44 (0)1787 881165
Minicom:
+44 (0)1787 310889
Fax:
+44 (0)1787 313995
E-mail:
hsebooks@prolog.uk.com
Post:
HSE Books
PO Box 1999
Sudbury
Suffolk CO10 2WA
If you have a query on your order you can call the help line on +44 (0)1787 884148 between 09.00 - 17.00 (UK time) Monday - Friday.


Yours Sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[adinnhall]

I am looking for a book on Health Safety and Environment subject. Any information on this subject will be highly appreciated. For me the HSE presentation highlights there is no room for mythical headlines within the British media as this helps no one.

[lisacherry225]

A compilation of new HSE's Myth of the Month cartoons. 'Health and safety' banning everything from ladders to school trips is a familiar headline, but its's rarely true. The cartoons are very funny, but show how misleading stories can distract people from the serious business of managing real health and safety risks sensibly.

[brothermagrew]

I am looking for a book on Health Safety and Environment subject. Any information on this subject will be highly appreciated. For me the HSE presentation highlights there is no room for mythical headlines within the British media as this helps no one.

Try HSE Books http://books.hse.gov.uk/hse/public/home ... c/home.jsf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;