You'll have seen it lauded in the tabloids, those lazy opinion pieces about Health & Safety gone mad, painting a picture of stern men in suits stopping children from playing with Frisbees because they're too pointy.
But the truth is much different, far from presiding over a Nanny State the Health & Safety Executive is actually hitting back at the rants about over-zealous safety legislation to prevent personal injury or accident at work claims.
The HSE has flagged up a number of incidents in which organisers or businesses cited "health and safety" as a deterrent to an activity or service, when the truth was there should have been no such concerns whatsoever.
Here are six crazy claims outlined by the HSE that they feel are indicative of a culture in the UK of blaming problems on the authorities.
Custard Fight Pied
According to the HSE a planned charity custard-pie fight was cancelled by organisers as they couldn't get insurance for the event to guard against personal injury claims.
However, the HSE's panel of experts point out that there are no obvious reasons why such an event should be banned. "We feel this is over the top risk aversion," the safety body concluded, pointing out that there were very few risks involved with conducting such an activity.
Fishy Tale
In another instance of unnecessary wariness presented by the HSE, a shopper at a local supermarket asked a member of staff to fillet a trout for them. The fishmonger agreed to do so, but a supervisor then intervened to say that cutting this type of fish was not possible due to health and safety reasons relating to accidents at work - even though an online advert for the supermarket noted customers could ask for this service.
Board members at the HSE came to the conclusion that, while staff members must be trained to use knives properly, a fishmonger would probably have been trained to this end. "The panel's view is that this is yet another example of poor customer service hiding behind the health and safety excuse," the body added.
Truncated Tree
A local newspaper reported that a UK Parish Council was scheduled to vote on whether to cut down a tree in order to stop children getting hurt while climbing on it. The HSE stated that this was a significant over-reaction by councillors to an everyday risk.
It added climbing trees is a normal activity for children and helps them to learn about managing challenges and the foliage would only be in breach of regulation if it was diseased or in danger of falling. "The council should be clear about the reasons for whatever decision it makes and not simply use the standard 'health and safety' cover-all," officials at the HSE argued.
Deflated Mattresses
At a sleepover event held by a nationally known museum, attendees were advised that they could only bring foam mattresses to sleep on and not inflatable ones. Officials at the museum claimed that the decision was made on the grounds of "health and safety".
However, the HSE said there is no current legislation that would prevent public areas from being able to allow visitors to sleep on inflatable mattresses. Panel members could also not think of any common sense reason they would be banned and they challenged the museum to give their real reason for this restriction.
No Frills Uniform
In one of the most outlandish cases a school chose to ban children on school grounds from wearing frilly socks because of "health and safety reasons".
Perhaps understandably HSE officials blasted this decision and said: "There is nothing in health and safety law which stipulates how long or short frills on school girls' socks should be, "These socks are unlikely to be a serious hazard unless they are torn and trailing on the floor." Board members added schools are free to set their own policies on uniforms, but shouldn't hide behind health and safety as a reason.
Getting a Handle on Legislation
One writer to the HSE complained he had been refused a pint glass with a handle by a number of pubs because of "health and safety reasons". In one instance the drinker had said he had been told the glasses had been banned by government legislation.
HSE board members said this is obviously not true and challenged the pubs in question to offer the real reason for their failure to give the punter the container of his choice.
But the truth is much different, far from presiding over a Nanny State the Health & Safety Executive is actually hitting back at the rants about over-zealous safety legislation to prevent personal injury or accident at work claims.
The HSE has flagged up a number of incidents in which organisers or businesses cited "health and safety" as a deterrent to an activity or service, when the truth was there should have been no such concerns whatsoever.
Here are six crazy claims outlined by the HSE that they feel are indicative of a culture in the UK of blaming problems on the authorities.
Custard Fight Pied
According to the HSE a planned charity custard-pie fight was cancelled by organisers as they couldn't get insurance for the event to guard against personal injury claims.
However, the HSE's panel of experts point out that there are no obvious reasons why such an event should be banned. "We feel this is over the top risk aversion," the safety body concluded, pointing out that there were very few risks involved with conducting such an activity.
Fishy Tale
In another instance of unnecessary wariness presented by the HSE, a shopper at a local supermarket asked a member of staff to fillet a trout for them. The fishmonger agreed to do so, but a supervisor then intervened to say that cutting this type of fish was not possible due to health and safety reasons relating to accidents at work - even though an online advert for the supermarket noted customers could ask for this service.
Board members at the HSE came to the conclusion that, while staff members must be trained to use knives properly, a fishmonger would probably have been trained to this end. "The panel's view is that this is yet another example of poor customer service hiding behind the health and safety excuse," the body added.
Truncated Tree
A local newspaper reported that a UK Parish Council was scheduled to vote on whether to cut down a tree in order to stop children getting hurt while climbing on it. The HSE stated that this was a significant over-reaction by councillors to an everyday risk.
It added climbing trees is a normal activity for children and helps them to learn about managing challenges and the foliage would only be in breach of regulation if it was diseased or in danger of falling. "The council should be clear about the reasons for whatever decision it makes and not simply use the standard 'health and safety' cover-all," officials at the HSE argued.
Deflated Mattresses
At a sleepover event held by a nationally known museum, attendees were advised that they could only bring foam mattresses to sleep on and not inflatable ones. Officials at the museum claimed that the decision was made on the grounds of "health and safety".
However, the HSE said there is no current legislation that would prevent public areas from being able to allow visitors to sleep on inflatable mattresses. Panel members could also not think of any common sense reason they would be banned and they challenged the museum to give their real reason for this restriction.
No Frills Uniform
In one of the most outlandish cases a school chose to ban children on school grounds from wearing frilly socks because of "health and safety reasons".
Perhaps understandably HSE officials blasted this decision and said: "There is nothing in health and safety law which stipulates how long or short frills on school girls' socks should be, "These socks are unlikely to be a serious hazard unless they are torn and trailing on the floor." Board members added schools are free to set their own policies on uniforms, but shouldn't hide behind health and safety as a reason.
Getting a Handle on Legislation
One writer to the HSE complained he had been refused a pint glass with a handle by a number of pubs because of "health and safety reasons". In one instance the drinker had said he had been told the glasses had been banned by government legislation.
HSE board members said this is obviously not true and challenged the pubs in question to offer the real reason for their failure to give the punter the container of his choice.
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