The HSE have set up a myth buster's panel to scrutinize decisions made on health and safety grounds to challenge the UK perception of ‘red tape'.
While some business decisions may seem commonsense: ‘H&S regulations blamed for controlling number of spectators at fire work event', some decisions are entirely irrational, and are made without merit: ‘A sleepover event at a national museum allows foam mattresses but not inflatable ones', ‘Custard pie fight cancelled', ‘Pet show organisers asked visitors not to bring pets for H&S reasons'.
In the recent case of the Sheffield Half Marathon, the event was cancelled because the organisers could not provide sufficient water for competitors. While some may consider that this should not have effected the cancellation of the race, the organisers adopted the correct approach (albeit they failed to stop some athletes from completing the course).
