How serious do you take Health and Safety?

I'm all for health and safety, but sometimes it can be a bit OTT and a bit repetitive, I've lost count how many times in the last 30 odd years someone feels the need to tell me how to bend the knees when lifting.... When the other half scrubs the kitchen floor, I know from past experience that it is best not to even attempt to walk across the floor.... However in any other environment I am inundated with warning signs, bollards, barriers, flashing lights and people wearing hi viz jackets warning me to stand back and stay clear as though there is some kind of nuclear spillage, when in fact it is nothing more than some kid knocking a bottle of ketchup of a supermarket shelve.....  Common sense seems to be lacking in most people nowadays... There is certainly a place for health and safety and I wouldn't knock it, but there is a cost element to it. As an example some boilers I fit weigh around 45kg suitable for a one man lift, other boilers I fit weigh 100kg + the manufacturers will state on the packaging that it is a 2 man lift..... question is, do I fit the boiler by myself knowing full well I can manage it, or do I employ someone for a days wages to do 5 minutes work and then watch me for the rest of the day?.....

I agree that some people seem to use Health and Safety as an excuse for everything, there's a good link on the HSE site about some of the over the top things people say. Maybe it's the people who have been ridiculous with it that have put others off.

With the boiler example, my only advice would be to do a manual handling course. Ours are only £40 each, they shouldn't be much different in price where you are and that will definitely make sure you're using best lifting practices. Your insurance company might be able to give you advice on lifting a boiler on your own when the instructions state that it's a two man lift, I think I'd have to get the Mrs to help me with that one though 

I think that H&S has become a subject to avoid because of the ridiculous extremes it's taken to.  The example of banning kids playing conkers is just one of them.   Sometimes it's used as a reason to fob us off.   I agree that people lack common sense.  

I recently read of a couple who wanted to reserve two aircraft seats.  Nothing unusual in that, except they wanted the middle and aisle in the row of three.  This was declined on the grounds of health and safety, yet there is no aviation regulation stating that it cannot be done.  It was the airline recognising that the single window seat may be difficult to sell.  Using H&S as an excuse is why so many people just laugh or show no interest.

 Same apathy applies to travel safety/security.   I've delivered many individual briefings where I've been concerned about the lack of understanding displayed.  My favourite comment was if they were in a job where they had to be at the top of their game 100% of time, they would be dangerous

When we did work for places like Sainsbury , Waitrose etc I did find some of their health and safety a bit over the top ..The 1 I still laugh at today is having to wear a hard hat though a car park with nothing but open air above ,it would have been no different for any other day ,loads of others but I always found that funny 

Hard hats do come in handy if you need to scoop out a blocked toilet....... just make sure it's some else's hard hat though....

I think a lot of it is dependant on the industry.

Someone starting a business tends to be a bunny caught in the headlamps. Within 3 months of trading they will have been bombarded to death with every type of product and service essential for their business survival as their details are circulated as hot new prey for the circling sales sharks 

If I get one more PAT tester telling me it's a legal requirement to make sure our kettle has been checked, I'll shove it and the taped up worn flex and broken plug where the sun doesn't shine.

Maybe its your approach that needs a rethink? Tell me I need to pay £40 each for a manual handlers course for my 5 plumbers along with everything else I need to do, and you'll get little attention.

But educate me that claims from employees due to problems with bad backs average around £20k with court costs, as well as loss of an employee, recruitment costs, business disruption etc, then £40 sounds like a bargain.

It's all in the pitch 

I consider health and safety practices indeed relevant for a business whether it is new and ongoing.  The appropriate standards and regulations must be met.