From Bob Staddon, chairman, Jersey Safety Council.
THERE has been some unfounded and unsubstantiated generalisation from social commentators on how the spread of health and safety is responsible for anything from spoiling childhood, bringing on the credit crunch and ruining Christmas.

At this time of year the playground and the papers are full of conker stories, all with reference to the ‘elf and safety police’ spoiling the fun. What the media fail to point out is that the world conker championship has, for the last two years, been sponsored by said ‘elf and safety police’ in the guise of the Institute of Occupational Safety Health.

Health and Safety encourages children to enjoy outdoor pursuits, it wants children to encounter risk, but with the element of health and safety tagged in to ensure the risk doesn’t become a hospital visit. Those that work in the health and safety industry are not out to ban the world from getting on with life, but rather to ensure they continue to live. I reflect briefly on what health and safety has done for us.

Seat-belts in cars and lifejackets on children, bright yellow street lights and warm working places, guards on machinery, flags on the beach, I could go on. Finally, I would like to point out that the only thing health and safety has ever banned is asbestos.
Cheval de Mer,
Rue de Rondin,
St Mary.