July 25th, 2025

Shaping Competence Together: Building a Culture of Competence in High-Hazard Industries

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The elf ‘n’ safety Santa clause

RE: Open health and safety letter to Santa Claus

Dear Santa,

Let us prefix this health and safety letter by taking a moment to thank you for your tireless efforts year in, year out. Thank you Santa, thank you indeed – particularly for the fabulous trainset you left under the tree last year.

Be that as it may, we have a health and safety claus we’d like to pick with you. With eyes that twinkle and dimples so merry, it’s easy to look past the safety failures you make – each year – when working at height.

As a bringer of safety, however, it is our duty to take you task.

Santa’s been a naughty boy

When flying in your sleigh and prancing upon snowy roof tops, Santa, you are in clear violation of The Work at Height Regulations 2005.

As sure as your belly wobbles like a bowlful of jelly, these regulations apply to you as an employer and the individual in control of work at height.

In controlling any work activities at height, you must:

• Make sure the work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people
• Use the right type of equipment for working at height. Likewise, low-risk, relatively straightforward tasks will require less effort when it comes to planning

Safety’s not just for Christmas

Santa, let us summarise. You are a role model to children and workers around the world. Let us therefore implore you to lead by example.

Please remember Santa: safety is not just for Christmas, it’s for life. So these rules apply not only on the eve of the 24th but all year round.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a safe night.

Kind regards,

Reynolds Training Services