Common sense should prevail over 'Nanny State' mentality claim Health and Safety Specialists |
| Sunday, 17 February 2008 | |
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Health and safety specialists mhl support have said that the Prime Minister’s pledge to fight the increasing ‘nanny state culture’ in the U.K. is an over-reaction to unqualified people making sweeping judgments. This month Gordon Brown promised to end the development of laws and rules that do no good in the name of health and safety. The PM was immediately criticised for setting up The Risk and Regulation Advisory Council while claiming to be cutting red tape. The Risk and Regulation Advisory Council will examine rules governing obesity, company management and so-called systemic risk aversion - including councils banning hanging baskets in case they fall down, hospitals banning flowers to prevent infection and schools stopping children playing conkers. Mr Brown’s pledge was made as fear of being sued over accidents hit groups such as the Scouts and bodies, which organise outdoor activities for children. Marc Schroder, CEO of mhl support, one of the UK’s leading H&S advisory companies, said that while Mr Brown meant well, the situation should not require a new quango to intervene. “The health and safety profession is getting a bad name as a result of unqualified people making health and safety decisions,” he said. “Many of the situations Mr Brown has reacted to should have been subject to risk assessments by a competent person – that is all that should have been necessitated. “If that had happened, decisions to ban the activities wouldn’t have been necessary, neither would over-zealous controls. There is no reason for many of these activities to be prohibited and people’s fun stopped. It is a common sense decision and merely necessitates the right application of knowledge,” he added. |