Is health and safety in the UK getting out of control, and, if so, what can we do to stop this trend?

Question

Is health and safety in the UK getting out of control, and, if so, what can we do to stop this trend?

Answer 1

It's so out of control - it only teaches people not to take responsibility for their own actions - rather, that everything bad that happens in life is someone elses fault.

I no longer live in the UK and I was recently teaching English to a group of kids - we used to play outside in the street and a couple of girls constantly ran across the street - I told the parents that I no longer wanted to take the risk of the kids playing outside - they all looked at me like I was crazy and said "well if they have an accident then it wouldn't be your fault" - it's so great to live somewhere where people still believe that an accident is just that - an accident.

Answer 2

stop the suing culture would help to many sneaky solicitors milking company's I'm afraid, companys have no choice but to defend themselves with such rules ...........

Answer 3

look at the uk refuse collection now. the collectors will only remove your rubbish if the bin can be moved with two fingers if it gets left. so where is the health and safety for a 90yr old who has to man handle their rubbish to the collection point ??

Answer 4

Yes. Change the laws back to British . Not this American compensation litigation style that currently holds sway.

Answer 5

no win no fee compensation culture i'm afraid, and it's gonna get worse, pretty soon you won't be able to f**t in the street without somebody suing you for air/nosie/ pollution etc etc.  we've just had all the traction engines in our village this morning off on their annual road run, we've had tractors zipping up and down with kids sitting in the  bowl at the front having the time of their lives, it's a health and safety nightmare but guess what nobody died, and the kids will grow up with the memory of today for the rest of their lives, we'll be so afraid to take any sort of risk soon, that a whole generation will grow up scared to step outside their front doors.  Never mind i'm off to bungee jump off my neighbours satelite dish.  See ya!!!

Answer 6

Way out of control. Societies are becoming obsessed with not taking risks. Children can't even climb trees any more. If people took responsibility for their actions and stopped trying to blame someone else for every accident and if people could accept that there will always be accidents no matter how careful we are then maybe we wouldn't have so many health and safety regulations.

Answer 7

Health an Safety Regulations is of the utmost importance to all personnel (and not just employees).   Do not undermine their importance to us all.

Like everyone else, however, if am fed up will zealots and official idiots who have little understanding of the law whom hide behind a smoke screen of "not my fault - health and safety".

I recently complained to a Health and Safety expert about all the regulations we were being exposed to - his view was that most of them were:

     Total mis-interpretation of the Regulation.

     Rubbish.

     A power rush by certain individuals.

     Myth.

His advice - if anyone quotes the Heath and Safety Act - ask for the relevant authority.