Christmas myths busted by HSE
Health & Safety update 22/12/2011
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has set out to prove that
many of the Christmas-related health and safety myths are just that
– myths.
An HSE spokesperson said, “Christmas is a special time of year.
Even so, it doesn’t stop health and safety being – wrongly – cited
as a reason for preventing pretty harmless activities from going
ahead.
“Not only does this needlessly ruin the festive spirit but it
also trivialises the true purpose of health and safety: protecting
people from real risks at, or connected with, work,” added the
spokesperson.
Some of the myths include staff members being told that they are
not allowed to put up festive decorations in the workplace and
businesses being sued for clearing snow from outside their
premises.
Others include people not being allowed to put coins into
Christmas puddings, carol singers being classed as a risk to health
and safety and Christmas lights needing to have portable appliance
tests (PAT) carried out on them every year.
Chris Grayling, work and pensions minister, told The Guardian
newspaper, “We've always been clear that H&S laws exist to
provide important safeguards against people being seriously injured
or made unwell at work and should not hamper everyday activities.
These regulations are intended to save lives, not stop them,” Mr
Grayling went on to say.
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