May Contain Nuts

BBC1 Panorama program on the Health & Safety Industry

Following this program the HSE has released the following statement:

The Daily Mail's Quentin Letts reached the conclusion in Panorama last night that common sense must rule when it comes to protecting people’s health and safety. We at the Health and Safety Executive applaud this sentiment.

'Health and safety' is sometimes used as an excuse to save money or justify unpopular decisions - from banning hanging baskets to Christmas lights. This is a constant frustration to HSE. As Quentin Letts discovered, many of these decisions have little to do with real health and safety regulations.

HSE's work is not about wrapping people in cotton wool, but working with employers to reduce the numbers of families devastated by their loved ones being killed or injured.

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Health and safety began with the noble aim of protecting workers from dangerous conditions in heavy industry. Nowadays, health and safety officials seem ready to pounce on all aspects of our working lives, from building work to the sound levels musicians can play at, or even the weight and size of our gravestones.

The culture has been driven by lawyers encouraging claims for almost any accident, while leaving just 125 inspectors to enforce safety on building sites across the UK.

Panorama investigates why the deadly serious matter of health and safety has become a laughing stock.

BBC 1 - 20th April 2009 - 20:30