Clearly borrowing a pair of scissors is considered too cutting edge...

Here's another absurd "elf 'n' safety" story for you...

A woman working in a London library says she was refused the loan of a pair of scissors by an assistant because she "might stab a member of staff". Lorna Watts, 26, told the BBC: "I asked why I couldn't borrow a pair of scissors and she said, 'they are sharp, you might stab me'.

"I then asked to borrow a guillotine to cut up my leaflets but she refused again - because she said I could hit her over the head with it!"

Lorna added: "It's absurd - there are plenty of heavy books I could have hit her with if I wanted to!"

A spokeswoman for the HSE said there was no policy in place on lending sharp implements.
"People know their own workplaces and must carry out their own risk assessments", she said.
"But we do ask workplaces to take a common sense approach. This could be a case of someone misinterpreting the rules."

Well, if Miss Watts didn't want to assault Ms.Jobsworth before her library visit, I bet she does now.

Be part of the solution

I attended the launch of the HSE's new strategy, 'The Health and Safety of Great Britain: Be part of the solution' yesterday.

Judith Hackitt (Chair of the HSE), James Purnell (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions), Brendan Barber (TUC General Secretary) and representatives from the LGA and EEF were all in attendance, but apart from the rather attractively-designed literature, there wasn't much to report on.

A previous article by HSW on the strategy told us all we needed to know, and it seems the three-month consultation didn't change very much. However, we'd still like to know what you think of the new strategy; add your comments in the discussion forums.

The strategy is available to download here.

Another great year for health and safety

Last week the team behind Health and Safety at Work magazine and http://www.healthandsafetyprofessional.co.uk/ exhibited at the annual Safety & Health Expo in Birmingham. It was a great show, and we were fortunate to meet many readers, all of whom had great things to say about the publication and website.

Did you visit the show? We'd love to hear your experiences - please add your thoughts here.

UK retains working time opt-out

Will the news that the UK can keep its opt-out from the EU's 48-hour working limit make any difference to your company's policy?

Vote in this week's opinion poll. Results will be published in next week's e-newsletter.

Just how painful is this recession?

The recession will not lead to a reduction in investment in health and safety for companies, according to health and safety minister Lord McKenzie of Luton.

Speaking at last month's IOSH conference, he explained that the current economic situation would mean "testing" times ahead, but there would be no let up of "duties around health and safety".

Has your health and safety role changed due to the current economic climate? Have there been redundancies within your department? We want to hear how the recession is affecting industry. Add your comments here.

F10 notifications

Is a construction project comprising of demolition and asbestos roof removal notifyable under CDM 07? Answer Matthew Aitken's question here.

£90K penalty for work at height injury

One of the UK's largest construction contractors has been fined £80,000 plus £10,000 costs after a construction worker was severely injured when he fell from a roof. Read the full story here.

Challenging accidents

Have you ever had to challenge alleged accidents at work? If an employee has been instructed to carry out a process in a certain way and they don't, resulting in an injury, is that an accident at work or a deliberate act?

Post your answers to this and many other questions in our discussion forums.

Network with HealthandSafetyProfessional.co.uk

Are you on Facebook? If so, join our group for all the latest health and safety events, news and offers.

To keep up-to-date with our daily news feed, follow us on Twitter.

And don't forget to post your comments in our discussion forums and share your health and safety knowledge in our Q&A section.

Health and safety knowledge required!

There are a number of questions posted in our Q&A section on www.healthandsafetyprofessional.co.uk which still require answers. So if you can spare a few minutes on this lovely Friday afternoon, why not use your health and safety know-how and help your peers?

The questions which need answers are: Thermite action, HSE Plan and OSHA.

Don't forget to post your queries to gain knowledge from other health and safety professionals.

The holiday that blew me away...literally

I recently returned from a short break in Spain, where we were subjected to hurricane-force winds whilst out taking a walk. Winds of up to 112mph carried us along the roads, which we had to walk in to avoid the falling roof tiles from buildings to the pavements.


Authorities in Spain reported at least 12 deaths linked to Saturday's storm, including four children crushed as a sports facility buckled in high winds in Barcelona.


We witnessed sand storms, walls collapsing, structures swaying - I tried to take pictures of electrical wires literally hanging at shoulder level on a residential street - although my photographic skills leave a lot to be desired. It was still sunny though.

MEPs vote to scrap opt-out

Those lovely (ahem) chaps at the European Parliament have completely scuppered the UK Government by voting to abolish the opt-out that allows EU member states not to apply the maximum 48-hour week if a worker agrees to work longer.

The TUC is pleased, calling it "an early Christmas present". What do you think? Tell us here.
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A risky business

A user of HSP, Claire Ingram, has posted a thread in our online forums about Cutting Edge's "The Fun Police", a Channel 4 programme aired last week. Did any readers watch it? I'd love to know your thoughts. Add them here.

When people go too far

I was just in a large retail store happily browsing in my lunch hour when I heard shouting and swearing coming from where the security guard stands. A customer (and a rather thuggish and scary-looking customer at that) was verbally abusing the guard in an extremely aggressive manner while everyone just stood and watched. I alerted another guard at the other side of the store who approached to deal with the situation and he subsequently diffused it. But it got me thinking ... why should employees have to deal with abuse such as what I witnessed today? These kinds of situations lead to stress and time off work, which isn’t good for the worker or the employer.

What do you think? Have you ever had to deal with workplace violence as a health and safety professional? Discuss here.

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Road safety and the HSE

I have just had a call from a IIRSM member regarding a story I ran in the latest issue of the Newsletter on a new report by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, which recommends the HSE could play a "much greater part" in managing occupational road risk.

He believes this is not the HSE's role ... what do you think? Add your comments here.

Healthy and happy employees

Earlier this week I attended a private clinic to have a full healthcare screening, courtesy of my employer. Having not even been aware that we are entitled to this after three years' service, I went along not really expecting much.

However, I was very surprised - I had various tests including stress, posture, glucose, antioxidant levels, cholesteral etc etc and am pleased to say I am relatively healthy. But it got me thinking. The benefit to my employer of paying for us to have this health check is enormous - ever since the tests I have thought much more about my health, and the impact it has on my job. Looking after my health is obviously important, both to me and my employer.

I think more businesses should offer health screenings as a benefit - although with the current economic crisis it's probably not the best time to start spouting off...

A rude awakening

On Wednesday morning I woke up to Barack Obama giving his victory speech - which, considering it was 4.30am, rather cheered me up. However, I am really not the sort of person who would rise at such a ludicrous time - election or no election, I like my sleep. The reason for my early awakening was to get the first train to Birmingham to attend the 2nd annual HSW/IIRSM conference.

It was an informative, enjoyable day - most of the speakers had obviously attended a comedy course as the jokes came thick and fast. But there were serious points too - namely defence lawyer Paul Burnley of DLA Piper's talk on corporate manslaughter investigations. He told the audience how he is involved in two of the first cases - and warned that police have arrested supervisors, site-level managers and directors and interviewed them under caution within weeks of the incident.

Read the full story here.

A tale for our times

This poem was a contribution by the late Sir Allan Holt OBE, former Group Head of Health at the Royal Mail. I just thought I'd share it with you.

The ambulance in the valley

'Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
But over its terrible edge there had slipped
A duke and full many a peasant.
So the people said something would have to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally;
Some said, "Put a fence 'round the edge of the cliff,"
Some, "An ambulance down in the valley."

But the cry for the ambulance carried the day,
For it spread through the neighbouring city;
A fence may be useful or not, it is true,
But each heart became full of pity
For those who slipped over the dangerous cliff;
And the dwellers in highway and alley
Gave pounds and gave pence, not to put up a fence,
But an ambulance down in the valley.

"For the cliff is all right, if you’re careful," they said,
"And, if folks ever slip and are dropping,
It isn't the slipping that hurts them so much
As the shock down below when they're stopping."
So day after day, as these mishaps occurred,
Quick forth would those rescuers sally
To pick up the victims who fell off the cliff,
With their ambulance down in the valley.

Then an old sage remarked: "It's a marvel to me
That people give far more attention
To repairing results than to stopping the cause,
When they'd much better aim at prevention.
Let us stop at its source all this mischief," cried he,
"Come, neighbours and friends, let us rally;
If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense
With the ambulance down in the valley."

"Oh he's a fanatic," the others rejoined,
"Dispense with the ambulance? Never!
He'd dispense with all charities, too, if he could;
No! No! We'll support them forever.
Aren't we picking up folks just as fast as they fall?
And shall this man dictate to us? Shall he?
Why should people of sense stop to put up a fence,
While the ambulance works in the valley?"

But the sensible few, who are practical too,
Will not bear with such nonsense much longer;
They believe that prevention is better than cure,
And their party will soon be the stronger.
Encourage them then, with your purse, voice, and pen,
And while other philanthropists dally,
They will scorn all pretence, and put up a stout fence
On the cliff that hangs over the valley.

What are you worth?

Do you know the market rate for health and safety managers? How does your salary compare with other companies? We are conducting our annual pay survey and welcome your responses. Start the survey.

Your knowledge is required

There's been a few new questions added to the Q&A section on www.healthandsafetyprofessional.co.uk recently:

Ladders to enter underground structures
REACH
Difference between ELCB and RCCB?
Too many steps?

Click on the links above to share your health and safety knowledge.