Bl**dy Ridiculous

[Trevor S 2,003]

The wife and I watched an episode of the Antiques Roadshow last night and could not believe what came to light during an interview between one of the show assessors and a woman who had bought an item in for evaluation.

The show was from a location in Yorkshire, an old mansion, and the vice principal of a local school had brought in a rocking horse. The rocking horse was in excellent condition, real horse hair for a tail and mane, leather bridle and saddle and as the vice principal stated, it had been at the school for many, many years. At either end of the rockers, there was a small seat so that whilst one rode the horse, a small child could sit at either end as well and enjoy the fun.

I am sure that many Nottstalgians will remember rocking horses in their childhood, whether at school or funfairs; even outside shops and a coin in the slot gave you a short ride. I still remember the one at the RoT Infants School in the class room of the first graders. A dark, shiny brown steed.

Anyway, back to Antiques Roadshow. The Vice Principal was congratulated on her school keeping the rocking horse in such good condition for something over 70 years old and it was suggested that the littlies at her school would still get a lot of enjoyment from the toy.

And what was the apologetic and somewhat sad reply from the Vice Principal???

"The children are not allowed to ride the horse or even sit on it because of Occupational Health and Safety issues. The horse just sits idle and can no longer be used."

Unbelievable. It's a bl**dy kids rocking horse! Who allowed the world to go so wrong? I thank God I was born when I was and enjoyed the wonders and joys of childhood and was given freedom to explore life. Sometimes I got hurt but I learnt and moved on. At least I was not wrapped in cotton wool, spoon fed and closely supervised by those probably more intent on avoiding civil litigation.

[MELTONSTILTON 452]

Your right Health and Safety have gone ma

[Bubblewrap 3,815]

H&S and P.C. are sometimes taken TOOOOOOOOOOO! far

[poohbear 1,360]

I agree with 'Elf & Safety...it's a highly dangerous item...especially if the kids sitting on it are playing conkers.Or it's sited under an oak tree with all those falling acorns.

Better the kids just sit still on the grass...but then they might sit in dog muck...or they could......................................

[MELTONSTILTON 452]

Your wrong Bubblewarp H&S and P.C. are not taken TOOOOOOOOOOO! far

They are taken TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! far

[catfan 14,793]

I can't make my mind up which I hate the most, Elf & Safety or PC.

[Michael Booth 7,364]

If you all feel so strongly about 'Elf and Safety' and 'PC' then don't vote for the people who implement them. It's that simple to eradicate this nonsense.

[denshaw 2,878]

If you come to the next meet up, don't forget your safety gloves.

[Paulus 541]

health & safety's not driven by anyone's desire to have a safe environment to work & play in, it's driven by the insurance companies that ensure all it's clients (Companies & private) are covered for claims arising from 'what they do, or what they fail to do'..................................it's all about the money again!!

[Bubblewrap 3,815]

Don't worry folks you can still fart in doors.

[Michael Booth 7,364]

There are thousands of Insurance companies out there who would give anything to do business with the NCC etc. If, as Paulus states, the Insurance company makes excessive demands regarding H&S then they don't get the business. Other companies will soon get the message and that's the problem solved. In my opinion it's a 'power over the people' thing that Councillors and people in authority have.

[Trevor S 2,003]

It is Risk Management gone overboard.

If every action is considered in the light of 'What may happen" if we carry that action out; then we should not be crossing a road, climbing the stairs, riding bikes or going about life in general.

I am in favour of sensible and productive workplace and industry safety guidelines and that is where OH&S belong.

I am not in favour of overbearing, bureaucratic, seat warming prudes dictating how our children and even our personal lives should be governed because "It is best for us" or "This could happen if."

Makes you wonder where the human race would be today if OH&S had existed back in the Stone Age....No fire or wheel for starters as they would have been abandoned as too dangerous!

[Bubblewrap 3,815]

Don't give soldiers guns or they might kill someone

If to-days H&S had been in place in the 1940s we would have lost the war.

[Fynger 841]

"children" and "play" in the same sentence....is that allowed anymore ??

[Cliff Ton 10,506]

The other big cause of the growth of H&S mania is litigation culture, ambulance-chasing lawyers, a concept imported from the US.

I can understand why councils, schools and corporate organisations feel they have to stop people from doing such things as playing, jumping, climbing, or any other physical activity. Some members of the public have brought it on themselves.

If a kid is in a nursery playing on a rocking horse and he falls off and scratches his leg, there are some parents who would immediately be off to their nearest solicitor to sue the nursery for damages. So the nursery take steps to prevent the possibility of them having to make a massive payout. If someone climbs a tree in a park and the branch snaps, they'd sue the council for having dangerous trees, so the council put notices up telling people not to climb trees. There are people who might burn their hand using an electric toaster, and they'd sue the manufacturers of the toaster. So the manufacturers have to put an idiot warning on the box.

That's the mentality which started it all.

[mick2me 3,033]

I wonder if a Rocking horse of that age and design is suitable as a modern toy?

I remember nearly chopping my finger off in one of those steel tubed double barreled toy shotguns that you had to break in order to set the spring to fire a cork placed in the end.

[mick2me 3,033]

Also such a toy would be worth a bomb, I wouldnt let kids play on it for that reason either.

[Michael Booth 7,364]

Nelson at Trafalgar 2012

Nelson: "Order the signal, Hardy."

Hardy: "Aye, aye sir."

Nelson: "Hold on, this isn't what I dictated to Flags. What's the meaning of this?"

Hardy: "Sorry sir?"

Nelson (reading aloud): „ England expects every person to do his or her duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious persuasion or disability.' - What gobbledygook is this for God's sake?"

Hardy: "Admiralty policy, I'm afraid, sir. We're an equal opportunities employer now. We had the devil's own job getting „ England " past the censors, lest it be considered racist."

Nelson: "Gadzooks, Hardy. Hand me my pipe and tobacco."

Hardy: "Sorry sir. All naval vessels have now been designated smoke-free working environments."

Nelson: "In that case, break open the rum ration. Let us splice the main brace to steel the men before battle."

Hardy: "The rum ration has been abolished, Admiral. Its part of the Government's policy on binge drinking."

Nelson: "Good heavens, Hardy. I suppose we'd better get on with it full speed ahead."

Hardy: "I think you'll find that there's a 4 knot speed limit in this stretch of water."

Nelson: "Damn it man! We are on the eve of the greatest sea battle in history. We must advance with all dispatch. Report from the crow's nest, please."

Hardy: "That won't be possible, sir."

Nelson: "What?"

Hardy: "Health and Safety have closed the crow's nest, sir. No harness; and they said that rope ladders don't meet regulations. They won't let anyone up there until proper scaffolding can be erected."

Nelson: "Then get me the ship's carpenter without delay, Hardy."

Hardy: "He's busy knocking up a wheelchair access to the foredeck Admiral."

Nelson: "Wheelchair access? I've never heard anything so absurd."

Hardy: "Health and safety again, sir. We have to provide a barrier- free environment for the differently abled."

Nelson: "Differently abled? I've only one arm and one eye and I refuse even to hear mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of admiral by playing the disability card."

Hardy: "Actually, sir, you did. The Royal Navy is under- represented in the areas of visual impairment and limb deficiency."

Nelson: "Whatever next? Give me full sail. The salt spray beckons."

Hardy: "A couple of problems there too, sir. Health and safety won't let the crew up the rigging without hard hats. And they don't want anyone breathing in too much salt - haven't you seen the adverts?"

Nelson: "I've never heard such infamy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to engage the enemy."

Hardy: "The men are a bit worried about shooting at anyone, Admiral."

Nelson: "What? This is mutiny!"

Hardy: "It's not that, sir. It's just that they're afraid of being charged with murder if they actually kill anyone. There are a couple of legal-aid lawyers on board, watching everyone like hawks."

Nelson: "Then how are we to sink the Frenchies and the Spanish?"

Hardy: "Actually, sir, we're not."

Nelson: "We're not?"

Hardy: "No, sir. The French and the Spanish are our European partners now. According to the Common Fisheries Policy, we shouldn't even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a claim for compensation."

Nelson: "But you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil."

Hardy: "I wouldn't let the ship's diversity coordinator hear you saying that sir. You'll be up on disciplinary report."

Nelson: "You must consider every man an enemy, who speaks ill of your King."

Hardy: "Not any more, sir. We must be inclusive in this multicultural age. Now put on your Kevlar vest; it's the rules. It could save your life"

Nelson: "Don't tell me - Health and Safety. Whatever happened to rum, sodomy and the lash?"

Hardy: As I explained, sir, rum is off the menu! And there's a ban on corporal punishment."

Nelson: "What about sodomy?"

Hardy: "I believe that is now legal, sir."

Nelson: "In that case................... Kiss me, Hardy."

[Charlotte1988 0]

I agree with 'Elf & Safety...it's a highly dangerous item...especially if the kids sitting on it are playing conkers.Or it's sited under an oak tree with all those falling acorns.

Better the kids just sit still on the grass...but then they might sit in dog muck...or they could......................................

very true

[mudgie49 401]

As a kid of 11/12, it was a 'thing' that you and your mates had a sheath knife attached to your belt. I don't recall anyone being stabbed, or falling on his knife.

During the summer holidays' I only took mine off when I went to bed, the rest of the time it was on your belt,If a mate wasn't wearing his knife, it was because he had missed behaved, and his parents had confiscated it. It was like being a cowboy without a gun.

[Ayupmeducks 1,730]

There was a case brought against Ryobi Tool Company. A labourer was cutting some wood on a contractors table saw, he was employed by a company and was cutting the wood freehand, no safety guard over the blade nor a riving knife attached to it to stop kickback.

The labourer hadn't been instructed "how to work safely" with the tool by his employer, well the blade "grabbed" the wood and pulled his hand into it severing a couple of fingers and seriously injuring the mans hand.

1/ I'd have dismissed the case had I been the Judge on the grounds that a manufacturer stipulates safety guards MUST be used and provides the guards etc, safety instructions provided etc.

2/ I'd have kicked the guy's lawyers rear end out of court.

Ironically, the fellers employer was not sued!! It cost Ryobi millions for something that was not their fault, kind of like suing Ford Motor Co, because a drunk driver killed their child...

To me, the employer was 100% guilty for failing to instruct the guy in how to use a table saw safely, and not making sure their was a blade safety guard and riving knife attached to the saw at ALL times..

I forgot, there was no fence either and he was ripping some wood!!! Totally asking to get injured!!

[StephenFord 866]

Did you hear about Paddy the labourer who started a new job, and chopped a finger off on a circular saw on his first morning. The foreman heard him yell, and saw him nursing his hand with blood rapidly spreading over his clothes. "Whatever have you done?" the foreman asked. "I've cut me **** finger off" replied Paddy. "How did you do that?" asks the foreman, "Well," says Paddy, "I just put me hand on there like this and...ahhh, begorra - there goes another !"

[poohbear 1,360]

That actually happened years ago...a lad was helping me on a bandsaw...he nicked his finger and yelled out.I said "How the hell did you do that?"....And he promptly showed me what he was doing...and nicked another. Lucky it was just a nick as I couldn't stop laughing...

[Limey 242]

The reason they went after Ryobi is twofold - firstly, the guy probably claimed workmens comp. - which lets his employer off the hook. Second (and main), Ryobi have the deep pockets!

I worked in this business for almost 30 years - and have seen most of the junk - BUT, we only saw the big suits (typically more than $1 million). The smaller ones get settled 'cause it is cheaper than going to court. An "ambulance chaser" can easily file a case/week. If each one settles for $100,000, the lawyer typically gets 60% plus expenses - the plaintiff will be lucky if he sees $20,000. Think about it, $60,000/week is not a bad salary!

[Ayupmeducks 1,730]

If the appeals fail though Eric, it's going to make power tools, especially table saws very expensive, there's already a new regulation coming out, all table and contractors saws must have flesh sensing equipment that when it detects flesh, it stops the saw dead.

Problem here is that a feller had already patented such a device, it causes major damage to the saw, and he is asking for too much for a license to each of the tool manufacturers.

There's already rumours coming down from the tool companies, that they will drop the contractors table saws from their product line.