4 replies to this topic

[Mike Green]

Just in case some people haven't seen it

 

The Health & Safety Executive in the Uk run a mythbusters panel  where members of the public or employees can ask them for a decision on varous situations where they have been told something can't be done on health & safety grounds

 

-sometimes its funny-mostly it's just pathetic!

 

eg

 

 

 

Case 276 - Restaurant staff declared that pork crackling is not allowed to be served for Health and Safety reasons! Issue

Enquirer was told by restaurant staff that pork crackling is not allowed to be served for Health and Safety reasons! It may splash the chef!

Panel decision

The panel is somewhat bemused by this case. Anyone who cooks roast dinners at home knows that pork crackling can be produced perfectly safely as part of roasting a joint of meat. Breaking the crackling into pieces for serving can be quite tricky but it is hardly a health and safety issue. It should be a fairly basic skill for any chef to acquire.

The company needs to own up to the real reason why they refuse to serve pork crackling.

 and

 

 

Case 303 - Burger van refuses to cut burger in half Issue

Enquirer was queuing at a burger van when the customer in front of them received their freshly cooked food and asked if one of the burgers could be cut in half as it was for her children. The stall owner immediately said "Can't do that - health and safety. We're just not allowed to do that." They accepted this excuse and left with the burger intact.

Panel decision

This is not a health and safety matter; there is no legislation which would prevent the stall from meeting the customer’s reasonable request to have their burger cut in half. Health and safety law does not prevent catering staff from using knives, in fact you expect them to know how use them safely. The panel have a real beef with this kind of unhelpful response to customers which completely misuses "health and safety".

 

 

Mike

[Mr. Incognito]

The panel have a real beef with this kind of unhelpful response to customers which completely misuses "health and safety".

 

Ha! They have a beef with this... lol.  The panel seems like a fairly punny group.

 

What a joke though why wouldn't you be able to cut food... sounds like their knives were dirty, or more likely, they just didn't want to take the time to cut the burger.

[Snookie]

Ha! They have a beef with this... lol.  The panel seems like a fairly punny group.

 

What a joke though why wouldn't you be able to cut food... sounds like their knives were dirty, or more likely, they just didn't want to take the time to cut the burger.

 

What about the customer who bought it and walked away.......

[RG3]

Case 303 - Burger van refuses to cut burger in half Issue
Enquirer was queuing at a burger van when the customer in front of them received their freshly cooked food and asked if one of the burgers could be cut in half as it was for her children. The stall owner immediately said "Can't do that - health and safety. We're just not allowed to do that." They accepted this excuse and left with the burger intact.

 

 

Maybe they could've asked for it perforated???

[Mike Green]

Ha! They have a beef with this... lol.  The panel seems like a fairly punny group.

 

What a joke though why wouldn't you be able to cut food... sounds like their knives were dirty, or more likely, they just didn't want to take the time to cut the burger.

 

Yeah-they do sometimes have their tongues firmly in their cheeks when responding!!

 

It is basically a catalogue of poor excuses for bad service ........

 

 

or H&S taken to ridiculous lengths -one of my current favorites.....

 

 

 

Case 231 - Coffee bar would not provide hot water for tea for health and safety reasons Issue

The enquirer asked to be provided or to buy a cup of hot water at the coffee bar at her local Hospital. She wanted Earl Grey tea which they did not have but said she was happy to pay the price of ordinary tea because she had her own teabags. She was told that she could not be provided with just hot water because of 'health and safety'. The enquirer pointed out that as she could buy tea, coffee or other hot beverages this was ridiculous but they would not be moved.

Panel decision

There is no health and safety at work legislation which prescribes that hot water cannot be served to customers. The risk from buying hot water is no greater than the risk from buying any other hot drink. This is a simple case of poor customer service being disguised with health and safety given as the catch-all excuse.

 

Mike