Safety body exposes the jobsworths

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said more than 150 cases had been reported to a panel it set up last year to fight back against 
“jobsworths” who use safety laws as a ruse to ban legitimate activities.

Officials said people hid behind health and safety to cover up bad customer service or because they were afraid of being sued.

Cases referred to the panel included bars refusing to serve pints in glasses with a handle, a hotel saying they could not serve burgers rare, toothpicks removed from a restaurant, shredded paper banned from a school fete, and a birthday party venue which refused to use a bubbles machine.

In another, a couple were told a hotel chambermaid could not make up a cot bed for their son because of the regulations.

Judith Hackitt, who chairs the HSE, said: “Why on earth do people think that they can get away with banning pint glasses with handles, bubbles at a birthday party, or burgers served anything other than well done, claiming they are a health and safety hazard?

“The reality is that people hide behind health and safety when there are other reasons for what they’re doing – fear of being sued perhaps, or bad customer service.

“The sad fact is that while all this nonsense is being spouted, it overshadows what health and safety is really about – ensuring people return home without injury from their day’s work, every day.” she added.