Christmas myths busted by HSE

Health & Safety update 22/12/2011

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has set out to prove that many of the Christmas-related health and safety myths are just that – myths.

An HSE spokesperson said, “Christmas is a special time of year. Even so, it doesn’t stop health and safety being – wrongly – cited as a reason for preventing pretty harmless activities from going ahead.

“Not only does this needlessly ruin the festive spirit but it also trivialises the true purpose of health and safety: protecting people from real risks at, or connected with, work,” added the spokesperson.

Some of the myths include staff members being told that they are not allowed to put up festive decorations in the workplace and businesses being sued for clearing snow from outside their premises.

Others include people not being allowed to put coins into Christmas puddings, carol singers being classed as a risk to health and safety and Christmas lights needing to have portable appliance tests (PAT) carried out on them every year.

Chris Grayling, work and pensions minister, told The Guardian newspaper, “We've always been clear that H&S laws exist to provide important safeguards against people being seriously injured or made unwell at work and should not hamper everyday activities. These regulations are intended to save lives, not stop them,” Mr Grayling went on to say.

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