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The Most Ridiculous Health And Safety Myths Illustrated By “Vibrant Doors” (8 Pics)
We’ve all seen an instance of health and safety gone mad. Whether it’s over-the-top safety guidance or using "health and safety" as an excuse for other concerns, sometimes it just goes too far! Health and safety rules are there to keep us safe, but sometimes people go over the top when it comes to interpreting the guidance.
In this project, Vibrant Doors researched some of the biggest health and safety myths. Using real HSE case data, the team created 8 myth-busting graphics to show off where health and safety concerns have got out of hand! In the well-meaning but comical style of vintage government advisory leaflets, the graphic illustrations bring to life the apparent concerns behind bizarre health and safety claims. From security fences around small ponds to only allowing qualified electricians to change a lightbulb, you can see the myths busted in the graphics below.
More info: vibrantdoors.co.uk | Facebook | twitter.com
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#1
In A Bizarre Misinterpretation, A Housing Association Removed Fire Extinguishers, Wall Signs, And Front Door Mats From A Block Of Flats For ‘Health And Safety Reasons’
Final score:
92points
Nomadus Aureus 3 years ago
It is extremely unlikely, however, if there is any damage to the cylinder or the safety valves, a fire extinguisher can explode.
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Gin. No tonic 3 years ago
They are heavy and may fall. Or people could trip over them if they're placed on the floor. I mean, there's people who need safety instructions to not microwave a cat, so...
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Lee The Thespian 3 years ago
Man, if there was only SOMETHING that could put out that fire. Hmmm
Nomadus Aureus 3 years ago
If they aren't made of natural fibres, they are toxic. Also as they are highly flammable, you are basically putting a bunch of mini campfires in front of every door in a closed hallway.
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John C 3 years ago
Uhhh.. it's titled "Health and Safety Myths" and at the bottom it says "Myth Busted" - I think these posters are being grossly misinterpreted.
Happiness is Hippo 3 years ago
Read the paragraph at the start of the article, these posters were created in response to actual cases of Health & Safety stupidity.
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A Property Management Company Once Told Their Odd-Job Man He Could No Longer Change Lightbulbs As 'Health And Safety' Required This To Be Done By A Qualified Electrician
Final score:
84points
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
In the Netherlands it's officially illegal to install a wall socket when you're not a certified electrician. But you can use as much powerstrips as you want on one wall socket. You could even make a chain of 20 of these things, if you'd like.
#3
A Housing Company Once Told Residents In A Block Of Flats That Pictures & Ornaments Weren’t Allowed Due To 'Health And Safety' As They Risked Falling And Hitting Someone
Final score:
78points
#4
In 2004, A Town Removed Hanging Baskets From Lamp Posts Over Safety Fears That The Old Lamp Posts Would Collapse. The Floral Baskets Have Since Been Reinstated
Final score:
70points
#5
A Housing Association Once Informed Tenants In A Block Of Flats They Should Seal Their Letterboxes In Case Of A Firebomb Attack, Despite No Cause To Suspect Arson
Final score:
59points
"Simo Häyhä" 3 years ago
"Ah yes, the building is on fire but if we just close the letter box we'll be fine, right, r-right?"
#6
One Council Attempted To Ban People From Clearing Their Own Driveways From Snow And Ice, Citing It Could Be A 'Health And Safety Hazard'
Final score:
50points
#7
A Satellite Dish Company Once Claimed Their Engineers Were Unable To Work After 5 Pm As It Would Be Unsafe And Could Contravene Health And Safety - There Are No Such Rules!
Final score:
41points
Andrew Gibb 3 years ago
I wouldn't want to be up a ladder in the dark or be rushing to finish my 8 hour plus day. Sounds sensible to me
#8
A Property Management Company Decided A Small Pond Now Needed A Fence Around It For ‘Health And Safety Reasons’, Despite Having Caused No Problems For 25 Years Already
Final score:
36points
ZooMom 3 years ago
This one I’m on the fence with (no pun intended). I have no idea what the size of this pond is but small children or incapacitated people can drown in just inches of water. Not sure it falls under the category “it hasn’t happened yet”. People drown in unexpected places all the time. Not worth the gamble to me.
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What do you think ?
ZooMom 3 years ago
Obviously the letter box and fire safety equipment is ludicrous, but some of the others seem to be for commercial insurance and liability issues. And I still support the fence around the pond
Roxy Eastland 3 years ago
We have a public pond in our village, in a small grassed area with a couple of benches. It has a rigid metal grid over it, and you can still see the plants, fishes etc, through it. I think this is fine because families with small children stop there and it doesn't take a moment for a toddler to fall in face first (for those that don't know children, little ones don't instinctively right themselves) while a parent is dealing with a dog going bonkers at someone or another child's requests. So protecting public ponds seems a proportionate measure to me.
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Roxy Eastland 3 years ago
All of this is blamed on 'health and safety gone mad' as if the Health and Safety Executive or the law are responsible for these ludicrous decisions. In fact the HSE are constantly having to bust myths that they have decreed things when it is down to either excessive misinterpretation or, probably more commonly, being used as an excuse for laziness. To put it in context we have near us a site where ancient buildings have been rebuilt (Saxon, Iron Age, Roman, etc) and when they have open days they have activities for children to take part in, up to and including the use of axes. The HSE are perfectly happy with their risk assessements and the measures they have put in place, and children happily hack away at logs with bronze, iron, and steel axes. https://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/
Sonia Bailey 3 years ago
All of them are ludicruous, except the last one - sadly, there have been many cases of small children drowning in unfenced pools and ponds. A toddler can drown in just a few inches of water.
ZooMom 3 years ago
Obviously the letter box and fire safety equipment is ludicrous, but some of the others seem to be for commercial insurance and liability issues. And I still support the fence around the pond
Roxy Eastland 3 years ago
We have a public pond in our village, in a small grassed area with a couple of benches. It has a rigid metal grid over it, and you can still see the plants, fishes etc, through it. I think this is fine because families with small children stop there and it doesn't take a moment for a toddler to fall in face first (for those that don't know children, little ones don't instinctively right themselves) while a parent is dealing with a dog going bonkers at someone or another child's requests. So protecting public ponds seems a proportionate measure to me.
Load More Replies... Roxy Eastland 3 years ago
All of this is blamed on 'health and safety gone mad' as if the Health and Safety Executive or the law are responsible for these ludicrous decisions. In fact the HSE are constantly having to bust myths that they have decreed things when it is down to either excessive misinterpretation or, probably more commonly, being used as an excuse for laziness. To put it in context we have near us a site where ancient buildings have been rebuilt (Saxon, Iron Age, Roman, etc) and when they have open days they have activities for children to take part in, up to and including the use of axes. The HSE are perfectly happy with their risk assessements and the measures they have put in place, and children happily hack away at logs with bronze, iron, and steel axes. https://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/
Sonia Bailey 3 years ago
All of them are ludicruous, except the last one - sadly, there have been many cases of small children drowning in unfenced pools and ponds. A toddler can drown in just a few inches of water.
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