Author pulls book in paper cut fear

THE author of a book honouring First World War soldiers has been told he needs £5m worth of insurance to sell them on council premises. The cover Mark Sutton (right) needs is to protect against people dropping books on their feet or getting a paper cut and then suing the council. He says the council’s demand goes against everything the men in the book, Tell Them Of Us, stood for. But Swindon Council spokeswoman Victoria Tagg said the insurance was necessary to protect against potential claims. “All suppliers of services and products to Swindon Council must have public liability insurance,” she said. “The cover we require is normally for £5m but we are prepared to reduce this to £2m for some smaller suppliers.” The book has now been taken off the shelves. Mark, 44, said: “It’s crazy. I refuse to get the insurance. I'm not going to bow down to it. It’s against the principles of what I wrote the book for. It’s just another one of these silly health and safety measures and it has gone potty.” Swindon Advertiser 22/2/07.

Sitting instructions

GREATER Manchester Fire Service has drawn up a four-page safety manual to instruct crews on how to sit in a reclining chair. Firemen hoping for a rest between call-outs are banned from doing so until they have been trained to use the £400 device. The first task will be to take out their “personal-issue head protector” and place it on the back of the chair. Then, and only then, can they begin their descent, a process that must end with them sitting “fully back”. Those that get this far can “get ready to recline”. The manual advises: “To release the mechanism (ie to start reclining), simply lift the lever under the right-hand arm of the chair (when seated). This moves the chair into its semi-reclined position (ie feet up, head up).” Crews are warned that only “trained personnel” can carry out “lubrication of mechanisms” and that sleeping bags must not be used. They are also given advice on how to deal with spillages, “tissue should firstly be placed on the stain to absorb excess liquid”, and warned that horseplay involving recliners is deemed a disciplinary offence. The fire service has spent £130,000 on its new Calcot recliners, which will be used as beds during night shifts. A fire service spokesman said: “Training will be given for health and safety reasons. There are moving parts.” Daily Telegraph 28/1/06.

Eating out

TRADITIONAL cheese and onion sandwiches, known locally in the Black Country as cobs, have been taken off a pub menu after 80 years of healthy eating. The cling film-wrapped cobs were banned from sale when inspectors raised concerns they were not refrigerated. The move ended years of tradition at the old-fashioned Beacon Hotel. Stunned by the decision, drinkers gathered 90 names on a protest petition in just four days. Landlord John Hughes said: “We’ve got these English pubs and there’s nothing like them anywhere in the world. Tourists come and they are amazed by the original features and the cheese and onion cobs are a little part of that heritage. We keep the pub like a museum and I feel we could have got away without a fridge.” Wolverhampton Express & Star 15/2/07.

Bags of no fun

WHEN children tumble over in the sack race, they tend to suffer nothing worse than wounded pride. But after seven years without mishap, the event has been banned from a community’s annual festival over fears that there could be legal action if anyone is injured. Organisers claim the compensation culture has led to soaring insurance premiums which have put the activity off limits. Despite the event attracting more than 2,000 young contestants each year, they say they have no alternative but to cancel it. The insurance bill for the fun day has risen from £400 to £600 in a year and would double if traditional events including the sack race, three-legged dash and egg-and-spoon were still included. This is London 7/2/07.

Nurse in danger ride

A DISTRICT nurse has been banned from cycling on her patient rounds because bosses think it is too dangerous. Kathy Archer did up to 15 miles a day which saved her employers £1,000 a year in petrol and kept her fit. But Bournemouth Primary Care Trust said the traditional transport left her at risk of attack from drug users because she carries syringes and needles. They also said she could spread infection between homes as she carries all her equipment with her. But a Royal College of Nursing adviser called the decision “nonsense.” Kathy told Nursing Standard magazine: “The patients thought it was great. They were a bit surprised, but very supportive. You can take nearly everything patients need.” The Sun on line.

Cold shoulder for river hero

A MAN who has saved more than 1,500 people from drowning has been told that police can no longer work with him because he is in breach of health and safety regulations. George Parsonage, 61, has plied the River Clyde in Glasgow for nearly 50 years. He even received a special lifetime achievement award by Princess Alexandra. But the future of his rescue missions has been thrown into doubt by a decision by Strathclyde Police to cease all contact with him. The force said that it had taken its decision for health and safety reasons, after learning last month that Mr Parsonage’s assistant had left. But Mr Parsonage insisted that he would still rescue people from the water, but questioned the “practicalities” of Strathclyde Police’s decision. “The police won’t call me. But, if a member of the public calls and there’s someone out in the river, I’ll be out there. If I see someone, I’ll go.” The Times 6/5/05.

Toddler's hoodie ban

A GRANDMOTHER has branded as “pathetic and laughable” a shop’s policy on hoodies - after her two-year-old grandson was asked to remove his hood. Brenda Cowper (right), 54, told how her husband took the youngster to his corner shop on a cold and windy night. “No sooner had they got inside than the shop-keeper asked my husband to remove the little boy’s hood. My husband said, ‘he’s only two-and-a-half. I don’t think he's going to rob you.’” In November, a middle-aged nurse was refused her morning paper at the same shop for wearing a lambswool hooded cardigan. Mrs Cowper added: “I can understand their point because there are a lot of kids that cause trouble down there, but when it’s a two-year-old it’s a bit pathetic and I think most people would just think it’s laughable really.” Staff at the Monkton Road Stores said no one was available to comment. York Evening Press 22/1/07.

Noisy neighbours

RUGBY Council has ordered a man to move a tiny wind chime from his back garden following an investigation that cost more than £1,000. David Bavington was stunned to receive an official letter claiming that the 1in-diameter chime was a ‘statutory nuisance’ following a complaint. And he was warned he had to take it down - or be served with a noise abatement order and face legal action. Ironically Mr Bavington, 57, and his wife Sheila bought the chime to create a feeling of calm while they were sitting in the garden of their £300,000 detached home in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, with noisy airliners flying overhead on final approach to Coventry airport just over a mile away. But, instead, it has landed them in a two-month legal row with officials at Rugby. Retired sales executive Mr Bavington said: “You can't even hear the chime if you go inside the house. But the council said there had been a complaint from someone who was annoyed by the tinkling. I told them it was ridiculous. Sending around officers to listen to a tiny wind chime is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.” Evening Standard 6/1/07.

Pets cornered

MORE and more primary schools are being forced to give up school pets to avoid breaching the Department for Education’s guidelines on health and safety. Rules say pupils must cover cuts before handling animals, wash their hands afterwards and not put into their mouths pens, fingers or crayons which might have come into contact with the pets or their cages. But teachers say that these rules are impossible to uphold in a class of 30 children. Daily Mirror 28/2/05.

Clean Marines

HEALTH and safety inspectors are turning their attention to the training of Britain’s armed services and suggest that chlorine should be used to ensure that the water in an assault course tunnel used by Marines is nice and clean. They also apparently recommended that handrails should be provided to stop the trainees slipping on the muddy training slopes. Harrow Times 13/2/04.

Blow to organ pipes

THE ORGANS at Salisbury Cathedral, St Paul’s in London and Birmingham Town Hall may be silenced under an EU directive aimed at limiting the amount of lead in electrical items. The regulations permit electrical equipment to have a maximum of 0.1 per cent of their weight as lead. Organ pipes have a lead content of 50 per cent or more. The directive, which seeks to minimise the amount of “hazardous waste” that finds its way into landfill after electrical products are scrapped, would also bring to an end the 1,000-year-old craft of organ building. In Britain there are about 70 companies employing about 800 people, and all their jobs are at risk. Lead is used in organ pipes because of its malleability and the distinctive sound it produces. Organists are baffled that they have been caught up in EU red tape because when organs are rebuilt the lead is not thrown away. It is re-used in new or different pipes. Katherine Venning, the president of the Institute of British Organ Building, said: “There is a very black cloud on the horizon. Pipe makers live to a ripe old age, with no known damage to their health. Pipe organs last indefinitely, and present no threat to the environment.” The Times 18/3/06.

Residents cross

RESIDENTS of an Angus village say they have been cut off from vital services by Network Rail all in the name of safety. The level crossing near their homes at East Haven, near Carnoustie, has been padlocked. The closure is part of a new policy to prevent public access to what the company classes as private level crossings. And despite assurances from Network Rail, residents fear that they could be left high and dry if they need an ambulance. Fifty people live in the 20 houses between the railway and the sea at East Haven. They get to their homes by car under a low bridge, but until now larger delivery vans and vehicles like ambulances have used the level crossing. BBC News 21/8/03.

Moving the goal posts

WHAT’S white, wide and waist-high, but still potentially invisible? The answer, according to a county council, is a set of goalposts used by children playing football. They ordered their removal from the small field where they were standing - in case walkers fell over them. Astonished local people were told that ramblers using a public footpath across the field might have their heads bent over a map and not see the obstacle. Then, of course, there was the danger to people out at night. But the decision by Cheshire County Council has been branded an own goal by families whose children use the field in Alderley Edge. Philip Reid, a father of three, said: “Councils are constantly bleating about the obesity problem our children are facing and then they go and mess about with facilities aimed at combating it.” The fate of the goalposts was sealed after an inspection by county council officials. They ordered Macclesfield Borough Council, which owns the field, to move them. One consolation for local people is that Macclesfield Council is planning to improve the play area and will be consulting them before deciding what to put there. In the meantime, walkers can stride fearlessly across the site - so long as they can see their way past the basketball net, swings, slide and seesaw that are still there. Daily Mail 23/2/07.

Revolver peril

PEOPLE working for the BBC in Birmingham have been sent a memo advising them on how to get through a revolving door. An email, sent to 800 staff - complete with matchstick man diagrams for ease of understanding - comes after one worker trapped her foot in the new doors at the BBC’s Birmingham studios, cracking a toenail. “Follow these simple steps each time you use the doors,” says the memo entitled Revolving Security Door User Instructions. “To enter the secure space move directly into the revolving door compartment. The door will start automatically. One person per compartment. Keep hands, feet and bags away from the edges of the door.” A BBC spokesman said: “We are keeping in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act.” Employees at BBC Radio Sheffield had previously been instructed on how to get through the peril-laden task of boiling a kettle. normblog.typepad.com 2/07.

Fear of floating

FOAM floats have been banned from swimming pools over fears children and adults could accidentally be whacked by them. Council bosses introduced the rule after complaints people had been struck by the swim aids. But the move was branded “mad” by parents and swimmers using the pools in Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge in the West Midlands. Mum Jill Andrews, of Brierley Hill, was told son Reece, eight, could not use his float. She said: “I couldn’t believe it. How am I meant to teach my son to swim?” Dudley Council spokesman Jan Jennings said: “This decision was made for health and safety reasons after complaints.” The Sun 14/6/06.

See-saw no more

AFTER almost 40 years the folk of picturesque Cotswold village Bledington were told their see-saw would have to be pulled up. It was, claimed a Playing Fields Association official, a danger under EU directive EN1176-1;1998 Playground Equipment For Outside Use. The fact no one had ever been hurt playing on it did not matter one jot. And the madness didn’t end there. The swings also had to be moved because there was the potential risk they could damage a child’s eyes because they faced the sun. Daily Mirror 28/2/05.

Public protection basket case

FOR THE last seven years Ian Collins has adorned the front of the Ring of Bells pub with a stunning display of hanging baskets and window boxes. The greenfingered publican has won numerous prizes, including Prettiest Village Pub on four occasions, and his efforts have attracted visitors from around the world. But now the 47-year-old has been forced to cancel his pub’s prize-winning flower display following a visit from the local council. Health and safety officials claim the hanging and wall-mounted baskets and pots were dangerous as some of the petunias and begonias spilled onto the pavement and walkers would have had to step into the road to avoid them. The officials also claimed Mr Collins’s baskets were hanging below the 8.2ft minimum height laid down by health and safety regulations and people could bang their heads on them. Disappointed Mr Collins, who has run the pub in the Somerset village of Norton Fitzwarren for 12 years, claimed it was a case of “nanny state” meddling. “I have done this for seven years and I have never heard any complaints and, in fact, it has been just the opposite.” But the county council defended its decision. Spokesman Jan Hookings said: “The safety of the public has to be our first priority.” Daily Mail 11/7/05.

Police nab conker haul

THE LONG arm of the law has come down on a group of conker-collecting children. When Kiya Jayne and three friends set out to collect conkers they found themselves ordered to stop by police, who confiscated the haul and handed them official stop and search forms. They had collected nearly a whole carrier bag of shiny red conkers from the tree in Littlehampton, West Sussex, when a woman police officer arrived and swiftly brought the fun to an end. The boys’ mums were stunned when their children appeared bearing four slips of paper, explaining that they had been stopped and searched. Mother-of-two Diana Jayne, 41, said she could not believe what had happened to her son. “It was absolutely ridiculous. He’s only seven and I encourage him to go blackberry picking and conker picking. I used to collect conkers when I was little” A spokesman for Sussex Police said they had responded to calls from members of the public. “Officers were assigned to deal with the safety issue of the children playing in the road,” he said. A bag of about 100 conkers were confiscated. Daily Mail 3/10/06.

Toddle charge

THIRTY children under three years of age in Poole, Dorset, managed to raise £142 for charity by staging a "toddlethon" through the park. They were then charged £36 by the council in order to check whether the event needed policing. Derbygripe.co.uk 2/07.

Trafalgar squares

PLASTIC signs have been put up in Trafalgar Square’s fountains, banning visitors from paddling in the water. The signs, branded “tacky” by critics, have appeared 160 years after the first fountains were built on the site. The ban spells the end for an age-old tradition of cooling down in the square’s waters on a hot summer’s day - often after a few drinks. Some of Britain’s finest hours, including VE Day and football and rugby world cup victories, have also been celebrated there. The signs - four in each of the two fountains - state “Not safe for public use” and come complete with no entry symbols. The move is thought to have been largely prompted by fears that the Great London Authority (GLA) could be sued by revellers who injure themselves slipping over in the water. This is London 2/6/05.

Beware, falling pears!

TOWN hall chiefs have made themselves a laughing stock after cordoning off two pear trees in case their fruit falls on people. The 30ft trees have stood in a city park for 50 years without any problems. But now a team of council workmen has put up security tape and a plastic barrier to stop anyone going near them. And signs have been screwed to each tree saying: “Warning, pears falling!” Officials acted after receiving a complaint the trees are a health hazard. They fear the council could be sued if anyone is injured by a pear in Cripplegate Park, St John’s, Worcester. The trees produce large black pears which are the symbol of Worcestershire. But local people say they bear fruit every year and no one has ever been hurt. Barry Cox, 40, said: “This is a crazy waste of time and money. It seems people aren’t credited with common sense any more. Next thing they will be issuing people with hard hats before they enter the park.” The Sun 4/10/06.

Wees ruin race

AN INTERNATIONAL cycling race has been cancelled over fears of competitors urinating on the Hampshire roadside. The annual Havant Grand Prix was called off after a “stalemate” was reached between police and organisers over plans for the 113-mile race. The conduct of cyclists and the safety of road users last year led police to ban the 2006 race. The event had been running for 16 years and attracted cyclists from across the globe as well as British Olympians. Inspector Howard Marrs said: “It is unacceptable to have masses of cyclists at the side of the road urinating and the organisers would have to address this before the race could have gone ahead.” He said the race would be stopped on safety grounds following the conduct of the riders. BBC News 9/8/06.

Pedo camera crib concern

PARENTS have been banned from filming and taking photographs of a school Nativity play - over fears that paedophiles could get hold of the images. St James RC Primary in Hattersley, Tameside, is thought to be the first school in Greater Manchester to introduce such a ban. Only members of staff at the school will be allowed to take photographs, which will be made available to parents. Head teacher Barbara Robinson declined to comment in detail, but said she was following guidelines set down by the Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury, which governs the school. Manchester Evening News 18/12/03.

Cancer banner banned

A CANCER awareness banner was removed by a council afraid it might damage a lamp post. Macmillan Cancer Relief said: “We were told it was a very ornate and important post.” The council in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, once banned hanging baskets. The People 12/2/06.

Don't do the conger

A MADCAP contest in which men slap each other with a dead eel has been banned on health and taste grounds after just one complaint. Conger Cuddling is a kind of human skittles which has raised thousands for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. Rival teams knock each other off small boxes by battering them with a 5ft conger swinging from a rope. But locals are furious after RNLI chiefs had to axe this year’s event over the single protest. The killjoy protestor claimed it was disrespectful to dead animals. Richard Fox, 67, who invented the sport 32 years ago, fumed: “It’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard. How can you be disrespecting an animal’s rights when it is dead?” The Sun 29/7/06.

Mince pie madness

ORGANISERS of a village Christmas party have been told they must carry out a risk assessment of their mince pies - or their festivities will be cancelled. Council bosses say posters will have to be displayed at the party in Embsay, in the Yorkshire Dales, warning villagers the pies contain nuts and suet pastry. The cocoa content and temperature of the hot chocolate must also be checked. Resident Steve Dobson said the rules had made the small party as difficult to arrange as the Great Yorkshire Show. Mr Dobson said he learned of the regulations after writing to Craven District Council to ask if he could use a car park outside Embsay village hall to hold the free party for the community. “It is bureaucracy gone mad,” Mr Dobson said. “The council gave me a huge list of things we had to do. I wrote back, a little bit tongue in cheek, asking if I really had to risk assess free mince pies and a brass band, and they said ‘yes’. Everything we do, from putting tinsel up to providing refreshments has to be assessed. We have to consider the dangers involved, that someone might choke on their mince pie or have a nut allergy. I also understand that Santa may need a Criminal Records Bureau check.” BBC News 4/12/06.

Getting the wind down

BRITAIN’S biggest offshore windfarm has been shut down because it was too windy. Prime Minister Tony Blair heralded the opening of the 30-turbine North Hoyle windfarm, off the coast of Rhyl as the “foundation” of the country’s move towards renewable energy. But the operators of North Hoyle, National Wind Power, admitted they had to turn off the turbines to protect them from 70mph winds. Anti-windfarm campaigners described the move as absurd, saying surely the turbines should operate more effectively the windier the weather. National Wind Power’s development manager for Wales, Mark Legerton, said: “There are a few days of the year in which the turbines don’t operate to protect them from heavy loading, which they would otherwise receive in the high winds. Derbygripe.co.uk 2/07.

Bunk tumble trial

A PRISONER is suing jail bosses for negligence - after he fell off the top bunk in his cell. Gerry Cooper cut his head after rolling out of bed while asleep at Bullingdon Prison, near Bicester, Oxfordshire. He claims that cons’ beds breach health and safety regulations. In a letter to a prisoners magazine, Cooper says bunk beds are “an accident waiting to happen”. He says his governor told him inmates who felt unsafe in top bunks need not sleep in one. The Prison Service denied that was a policy. The People 3/9/06.

Bacon buttie bladder worry

BARMY health experts are warning that eating bacon can give you cancer. A bladder tumour link was found in people tucking into the treat five times a week. The Sun’s own GP, Dr Carol Cooper, played down the scare: “If you look at anything closely enough, eating tons of it would be bad for your health. Lots of people will read this and think they must not go near bacon, which would be wrong.” The daft bacon warning follows a series of killjoy food scares. The bacon research followed the diets of 135,000 adults. It found a 59 per cent increased risk of bladder cancer in those who ate excessive amounts of bacon. The Sun 29/11/06.

Home-coming hazard

KILLJOY council bosses are under fire for wrecking a war hero’s homecoming. Wounded Para Ricky Trueman, 20, arrived back from Iraq on crutches to find his family home festooned with yellow ribbons, balloons and banners. The bunting stretched 50 yards either side of his parents’ bungalow and was draped high across the road. Ricky almost burst into tears when he saw it. But highway chiefs in Doncaster, South Yorks, were less impressed. A jobs worth official turned up at the street three days later and ordered the bunting to be taken down because it was a “safety hazard”. Disgusted mum Michelle, 42, said: “How can anyone be so insensitive after all Ricky has been through? The bunting stretched across the road but was so high even the dustbin lorry could pass underneath.” She added: “Ricky fought for Queen and country and came home injured - he deserves better than this.” Ricky suffered shrapnel wounds in a landmine blast while serving as a private with 3 Para near Basra. He said: “After what I’ve been through it leaves a bad taste. All people wanted to do was welcome me home but all the council can think about are their rules and regulations.” The Sun 13/5/03.

Lunch time no booze

ANGRY town hall staff claim they have been stopped from supping a lunchtime pint. Unison says the ban on work hours drinking in Hackney, London, is “draconian” and affects all 3,700 staff. But the council said it only applied where safety was an issue. The People 2/4/06.

Chop for city trees

A LONDON council has caused a furore after threatening to cut down one in five of its trees on grounds of cost and safety. Ealing council says the 4,500 lime trees are too expensive to maintain and are the cause of large insurance payouts because of the “compensation culture”. But this has provoked fury from residents and environmentalists, who fear the borough’s reputation as the “queen of the suburbs” will be destroyed. Council leader John Cudmore claims the trees are a problem because of their “vigorous” growth and attraction to insects, whose droppings made pavements slippery. He said the limes looked like “cabbages on sticks” because they have to be severely pruned back every three years. He said the council received “many, many complaints from residents” and said a radical solution was needed. This is London 20/2/07.

Hugs off

A SCHOOL headmaster was branded a killjoy after he ordered pupils to stop hugging each other. Steven Kenning told teens to quit embracing because it made them late for lessons. He said hugging could be deemed “inappropriate” and “victims” could be hugged against their will. The barmy “safety” rule was posted on the website of Callington Community College, Cornwall. Mr Kenning said: “Hugging was happening extensively and becoming the norm. We were worried it might become inappropriate. So we nipped it in the bud.” He added that there had been complaints from some pupils, so he told the kids: “This is very serious not only for the victim but for anyone accused of acting inappropriately.” But the ban outraged parents and pupils at the 1,250-pupil college, with some claiming they had been punished for illegal hugs. Local councillor Kath Pascoe said: “I don’t see anything wrong with hugging - it’s better than fighting.” The Sun 4/11/06.

Prick out

COUNCILLOR Dick Barker, from Belton, Norfolk, is calling for his village’s rose bushes to be dug up in case they harm children. Derbygripe.co.uk 2/07.

No outings for schools

TEACHER’S union NASUWT sparked fury when it called for a ban on school trips. General secretary Chris Keates said his members should abandon outings because society was becoming “increasingly litigious”. So great are the concerns that staff at Airyhall Primary in Aberdeen cancelled a residential break to Perthshire to mark pupils’ final year. The treat, which had become a school tradition, included physical activities such as mountain biking, kayaking and orienteering at the Dalguise Centre near Dunkeld. And in Derby education chiefs advised schools not to take children to sunny places in case they get skin cancer. Daily Mirror 28/2/05.

Don't rub the Scouts

SCOUT leaders have been condemned after it was revealed they had banned helpers from putting suncream on youngsters - unless they are already suffering from sunburn. The Scout Association issued the diktat in the hope of preventing allegations of child abuse. But it explained the ban did not apply if Cubs and Scouts were already burned - because they are considered to be patients in need of first aid. The policy was slammed by parents and campaigners. Father-of-three Richard Stevenson said: “I asked what sort of activities they would be getting up to. When I heard it was abseiling and shooting I thought, this is great - just the sort of thing that the safety culture normally precludes.” A spokesman for The Scout Association confirmed that leaders could not apply suncream to children. “If a child is responsible enough to go away on their own to a camp, then they are responsible enough to apply suncream. We have strict child protection policies to make sure no adult is putting themselves or any young person at risk.” Daily Mail 5/8/06.

Village pond hazard

VILLAGERS have hit out at “ridiculous” plans to fence off their pond so that no one falls in. Health and safety experts said the “water hazard” in exclusive West Itchenor, near Chichester, should have fencing around one side and a sign warning of the dangers of deep water. The pond is a home for ducks, carp and a water vole. It has a bench along one side and is popular with families who visit to feed the ducks. The bombshell was dropped on residents in a parish newsletter which declared: "As a parish council we are obliged to undertake risk assessments in the village and have been doing so for the past 20 months.” Council chairperson Louise Goldsmith said the local authority had an obligation under the Occupiers’ Liability Act. “We realised we were not covered by insurance on the pond. We as a council own 50 per cent of it and lease the other 50 per cent. We were advised by our insurers that we should have a risk assessment. We have had to do this. We have not made this up.” But village resident James Wilkinson said: “It does all seem a bit ridiculous. As far as I know the pond has a good accident record in that nobody has been hurt there. It is more of a muddy puddle than a big open pond.” Brighton Argus 28/11/06.

Prescott turns down the heat

THE Deputy Prime Minister’s nanny state will plumb new depths by controlling the heat of water in our tubs. Mr Prescott has ordered that special taps which limit the temperature are fitted in all homes built from next year. He says the law is “essential” to stop the rising tide of scalding accidents, insisting the new home safety regulations will protect the young, elderly and infirm who fall into piping-hot baths. But the special valves would also stop people topping up with hot water when enjoying a long soak. And residents would be forced to pay for annual inspections to make sure they are working properly. Aides confirmed regulations could be extended to force owners of existing homes to fit the mixer devices. Furious plumbers and the Tories urged Mr Prescott to wash the “crazy” plan down the plughole. Richard Nissen, a London plumber, said: “This is legislation gone mad. It is going to mean a lot of angry customers because of the cost of installing these valves and carrying out the mandatory annual inspections. You won’t be able to warm up your bath with extra water as the temperature will be regulated by the valve. It’s ludicrous.” The Sun 16/5/05.

Caution over Custard

CUSTARD the cat has been banned from a council building - because bosses say he is a health and safety risk. Stuart Dawson, manager at the housing benefit office in Dorchester, Dorset, says some staff are allergic to cats and others might trip over Custard. But one worker said: “It’s a barmy decision. He brought karma here.” The People 31/12/06.

Gormless art ban

ART LOVERS reacted with dismay and fury at a decision to remove Antony Gormley’s celebrated installation, Another Place, from a Merseyside beach on the grounds that it was a health and safety risk. Planners at Sefton council demanded the installation’s removal. Sailors might founder if they struck one of the so-called “tin men”, they said, while children, trying to swim out to the most far-flung statues, were in danger of being cut off by incoming tides. Supporters of Another Place acknowledge that the installation, which has attracted 600,000 visitors since it was secured to the sea bed in July 2005, was always intended to be a temporary piece of art. Laurie Peake, the project’s manager, said: “We were dumbstruck. The coastguard and the RNLI said they had no objections.” But conservative councillor Debi Jones, said: “In today’s litigious world I find it strange no one looked into the health and safety aspect. I asked the committee if they would have a clear conscience in court if a lawsuit were taken up.” Daily Telegraph 21/10/06.

Car crushed in window drama

ROGER Bugg had his motorcar towed away and crushed because he had left the windows open half an inch. The £500 Escort was destroyed by cops after a traffic warden reported it as a fire hazard. The warden said kids could have dropped a match through the windows, threatening an electricity sub-station. Mr Bugg said: “If a car is dumped by all means crush it, but mine was taxed and legally parked.” Derbygripe.co.uk 2/07.

Legion in stab fear

POPPY pins are being ditched by Royal British Legion branches amid fears wearers will sue if they are injured by them. Chiefs are blaming Britain’s growing compensation greed for the crazy situation leading up to Remembrance Day. Peter Westwell, secretary of the Legion’s Shropshire branch, said: “It’s claims culture gone mad.” Around Britain, sellers have been ordered not to pin poppies on children and anxious branches are extending the ban to adults. Most are now supplying stickers, plastic clasps or poppies with stems for button holes. Fund-raiser Malcolm Gainard of the Keynsham branch in Somerset said: “People can easily stab themselves with a pin and there is the worry of litigation.” The Sun 3/11/03.

Pub lunch panned

A WOMAN in a wheelchair has been refused entry to a Devon pub’s beer garden because she is “a fire risk.” Disabled Annette Boucher, 51, of Crediton wanted to have lunch in the garden behind the town’s General Sir Redvers Buller pub with her student-nurse daughter Charlotte and friend. But after the two women had pushed multiple sclerosis sufferer along a rough and overgrown path leading to the garden, they were told that they could not go in. Staff insisted that Mrs Boucher would be a fire risk because she would block the path in the event of an emergency. Pub chain J D Wetherspoon, which owns the pub, has since apologised and has offered mum and daughter a free meal which they have accepted. But it is still refusing to allow Mrs Boucher into the garden. mult-sclerosis.org 6/8/03.

Army pipers plugged

SOLDIERS learning to play the bagpipes have been told to limit their practice sessions to only 24 minutes a day, or 15 minutes when indoors. Pipers will also have to wear ear plugs under the new guidelines brought in by health and safety officials. The advice, aimed at preventing soldiers from suffering hearing problems, was issued after a study by the Army Medical Directorate environmental health team. Tests showed that outdoors the sound of bagpipes could reach 111 decibels, slightly louder than a pneumatic drill. Indoors, the instrument could reach 116 decibels, or as loud as a chainsaw. Bagpipes have played a crucial role in Scottish regiments, which have traditionally been led into battle by kilted pipers. Davy Garrett, who played the pipes in the Army for 12 years and now runs a piping school, said: “This is just another example of the nanny state and one that I am very concerned could ruin the future of piping in Scotland.” Bill Lark, 85, a Black Watch piper who led his comrades into action against the Japanese in 1944, said the rules were “ridiculous”. He said: “The pipes should be played loudly. That’s how they inspire soldiers and scare the enemy.” A spokesman for the Army in Scotland said the rules were a “prudent precaution”. Daily Telegraph 25/7/06.

Sunscreen blocked

A YOUNGSTER has been banned from taking sunscreen to school to protect herself in scorching weather. The decision - condemned by cancer campaigners - has even been backed by Manchester town hall bosses. The row flared after 10-year-old Georgia Holt was told she could not apply sun cream as temperatures topped 26C at Seymour Road Primary School, in Clayton. She was told health and safety guidelines issued by Manchester city council warned the creams could pose a risk to other pupils if they had allergies. Georgia’s mum, Wendy, of Stokes Street, Clayton, said she was furious about the ban. “I’m really annoyed about this,” she said. “It was absolutely scorching and Georgia got all worked up about it and seemed quite upset.” But a Manchester city council spokesman said: “We believe the school acted responsibly and in accordance with the health and safety guidelines. We advise that children do not bring sunscreen into school or share it with other children, as some children can suffer allergic reactions to it.” Manchester Evening News 18/7/03.

Meatball in choke terror

A PRIMARY school in Stow-on-the-Wold has taken meatballs off its lunch menu in case pupils choke on them. Rebecca Scutt, the head teacher, told parents: “It is better to be safe than sorry and have asked for meatballs to be removed.” Derbygripe.co.uk 2/07.

Reprieve in swing loophole

THE children’s swings in Great Somerford, removed last December over safety concerns, could be granted a reprieve because of a legal loophole. Only the swings’ frame remains on the Watkins Lane play area after a report said that the chains were too long and there was a possibility that a child would swing off. Residents were up in arms when the popular children’s attraction was removed. The swings have an impeccable safety record. There has not been a reported injury since they were installed in 1977. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has contacted the parish council and said that there was a possibility the village equipment could get a reprieve. Parish clerk Mark Edwards said: “The society contacted us and said that their interpretation of the laws could be different and said that they would do their own inspection. I will be very interested to see what they come back with; I hope it will mean that we will be able to get the swings back.” Swindon Advertiser 23/1/03.

Sponge cake in health scare

ALL LITTLE Emma Matthews wanted to do was celebrate her sixth birthday at school with a nice chocolate sponge. But before she could divide up the tasty treat among her hungry classmates, teachers stepped in and declared the tempting confection a health risk. Emma’s parents had bought the cake in a local shop and then went to some trouble to decorate it with extra icing and chocolate buttons for the pupils at St Bride’s Primary School in Bothwell, Lanarkshire. However, teachers told the astonished youngster that because the original packaging had been opened it breached health and safety rules and they couldn’t let anyone else eat it. A note Emma brought home from school said: “I am sorry to inform you that we are unable to use Emma’s birthday cake due to the fact that it was not sealed in the box.” Emma's mother, Lorraine Matthews, 36, said she was flabbergasted by the school’s actions. “Emma came out of school carrying the cake and she was really upset,” said mother-of-two Mrs Matthews, adding: “How could it have been safe for Emma to eat but not any of the other kids? The school never have a problem with parents preparing cakes when we are asked to make them for bring and buy sales and things like that so why now?” Daily Mail 18/10/06.

Crack down on kites

THE flying of stunt kites has been banned at Blackpool after a woman walking her dog became entangled in a string and was dragged to the ground. Fylde Borough Council has imposed the ban on its shoreline and open spaces, but the move has angered kite enthusiasts, who were developing the windy beaches around Blackpool as a centre for power kiting and kite surfing. The council said that people would still be allowed to fly traditional single-string kites. Phil Rawcliffe, of the British Kite Surfing Association says enthusiasts have complied with stringent safety measures but the council has pressed ahead with its ban without consultation. “There is uproar about it. Since we set up a club at Blackpool we have had risk assessments and paid insurance. We have done everything by the book. Lots of cafés and bed-and-breakfast hotels are going to suffer. One man from the Midlands has cancelled a trip up with his family of four. That sort of money is going to be lost to the economy for as long as this ban is in place.” The Times 21/4/06.

No dirty visits

HOSPITAL chiefs have been branded barmy after banning flowers and children visitors - to help them fight the MRSA superbug. The measures were introduced after outbreaks at St Richards in Chichester, Sussex, increased from 22 to 25 last year. A spokeswoman said restricting visitors would help reduce infections and no kids could call unless it was to see a close relative. She said: “It’s about clear access to patients’ tables and being able to wipe them down.” But Jim Morrison, whose mum is being treated for a broken foot, said: “It’s health and safety gone mad.” The People 22/1/06.