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The Most Ridiculous Health And Safety Myths Illustrated By “Vibrant Doors” (8 Pics)

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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

This post may include affiliate links.

#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’

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

"Simo Häyhä" 3 years ago

"Fire extinguishers will burn your house down!" Sorry, what??!

50points

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#2

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

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.

27points

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#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

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

Why? 3 years ago

Knick-knacks probably not. London Bridge a definite possibility.

36points

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#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

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

"Simo Häyhä" 3 years ago

The Womping.... flower pot?

30points

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#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

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?"

33points

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#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'

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

ZooMom 3 years ago

I mean, if they are willing to do it themselves before I have to go to work I may be amenable

25points

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Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

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#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!

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

24points

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#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

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.

37points

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“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

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Sally Wootton

Digital marketer/meme connoisseur

Digital marketer/meme connoisseur

Aelita Senvaitytė

My name is Aelita and I have been an Editor for Bored Panda since 2019. I spend my days working with my amazing team and making articles the best they can be. Fantasy and magic have always ruled over my world, from movies to TV shows, to Video Games to tabletop games like Dungeos and Dragons, I try to find magic in every part of my life. Writing is a big part of me too, I hope to publish a fantasy novel one day. I also enjoy playing guitar and singing, as music always help me to get in a great mood. I have an adorable German Shepherd named Hela and we get into all kinds of adventures together.

My name is Aelita and I have been an Editor for Bored Panda since 2019. I spend my days working with my amazing team and making articles the best they can be. Fantasy and magic have always ruled over my world, from movies to TV shows, to Video Games to tabletop games like Dungeos and Dragons, I try to find magic in every part of my life. Writing is a big part of me too, I hope to publish a fantasy novel one day. I also enjoy playing guitar and singing, as music always help me to get in a great mood. I have an adorable German Shepherd named Hela and we get into all kinds of adventures together.

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

11points

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.

6points

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bon bon (still purple boi) 3 years ago

oooooh needy very much needy

5points

Katsuki Bakugou (Kacchan) 3 years ago

hello again

0points

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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/

3points

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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

11points

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.

6points

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bon bon (still purple boi) 3 years ago

oooooh needy very much needy

5points

Katsuki Bakugou (Kacchan) 3 years ago

hello again

0points

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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/

3points

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