Top five health and safety myths

When you think of a ‘top five list’ you might normally think of favourite films, music or sports. For us at RTS, it’s safety.

Indeed, safety is never far from our thoughts and this is particularly so given that the Health and Safety Executive myth panel recently ruled on its 300th case.

In honour of this milestone, we thought it would be interesting to handpick five of our personal favourite safety myths. Some of these are strange, bizarre and often concerning.

They serve to underscore that for as sure as we need strong health and safety regulations, we need an equally robust system of communication to ensure we all fully understand our duties.

Without further ado, here’s our top five safety myths:

  1. Conkers and ppe – children can only play if they are wearing goggles
  2. Trapeze artists ordered to wear hard hats
  3. Hanging baskets banned due to fears that passers-by could bump their heads
  4. Pin the tail on the donkey games being pinned as a health and safety risk
  5. Graduates told to resist throwing their mortarboards in the air

Honourable health and safety myth mentions

Whilst these didn’t break into our top five, they are certainly worth a mention:

  • Schoolchildren must don clip-on ties as traditional neckwear presents a danger of choking
  • Park benches have to be replaced as they are three inches too low
  • Flip flops being banned from the workplace

Do you agree with these safety myths? What are your favourites? Have we missed any off the list you think should be there?

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- John Reynolds

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