tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post3980175213360215050..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: We Mustn't Be Afraid of RiskIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-2073590929516116322009-11-08T12:40:58.516+00:002009-11-08T12:40:58.516+00:00It is a good thing the 'elfin spectors are cow...It is a good thing the 'elfin spectors are cowards who l;ie their home comforts. If any of them ever went out on a fishing boat they would find reasons to close the whole industry, which has a far higher death rate than building, down.neil craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157898238945726349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17872041753190630012009-11-08T10:57:10.011+00:002009-11-08T10:57:10.011+00:00No sane teacher is going to run any sort of trip n...No sane teacher is going to run any sort of trip nowadays in virtually all schools.<br /><br />There are no effective sanctions to control children, but if something goes wrong the teacher will get the blame whatever.<br /><br />Banning no risk compo solicitors would help but the real problem is the lack of any workable controls on child behaviour.<br /><br />Incidentally, look up "Anne Jago" to see how it works in practice.Paul Robsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12278875872815047472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-34348281072616840362009-11-08T07:38:21.472+00:002009-11-08T07:38:21.472+00:00Some time ago my daughter arranged a work experien...Some time ago my daughter arranged a work experience week with an equine vet. The teacher responsible for work experience would only approve it if she promised to stay 6 feet away from the horses. <br /><br />She, of course, had a fantastic time, getting stuck in with everything that the vet was doing, and took no notice of the restriction. She learnt a fantastic amount and repeated the exercise the following year.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12073019640077080501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-62098970461789294952009-11-08T03:01:25.718+00:002009-11-08T03:01:25.718+00:00I am a teacher; fortunately not in the United King...I am a teacher; fortunately not in the United Kingdom. Britain's glory was built on risk, and yet today we have thrown away any chance of greatness by allowing others to explore space (as one example) because the Government is creating a nation of cowards.Keirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17780519140837852601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74652436892317276992009-11-07T18:33:20.491+00:002009-11-07T18:33:20.491+00:00Risk assessment is certainly necessary. However, ...Risk assessment is certainly necessary. However, at the moment it's driven by the need to avoid litigation, so it becomes ever more cumbersome and restrictive.<br /><br />A committee could be created to rule on what counts as reasonable, and then it could be legislated that when the reasonable measures had been taken care of, litigation would be impossible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-13385839558203245762009-11-07T16:37:08.056+00:002009-11-07T16:37:08.056+00:00"Fear of Getting Things Wrong Inspires Me Mor..."Fear of Getting Things Wrong Inspires Me More Than the Wonder of Getting Things Right" <br /><br />You know whotory boys never grow uphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11172736984147732661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-79635834052563425402009-11-07T16:18:56.414+00:002009-11-07T16:18:56.414+00:00Why do they always quote Parents Outloud? Its one ...Why do they always quote Parents Outloud? Its one person typing in her bedroom not a pressure group.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15650547800301982131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-87307611214230145192009-11-07T16:16:14.453+00:002009-11-07T16:16:14.453+00:00The trouble is that you've got a leader of the...The trouble is that you've got a leader of the Conservatives who doesn't reflect these values. He's afraid to take any risks at all.<br /><br />It's going to take politicians who are prepared to point out that a few deaths (out of 61,000,000 people) is an acceptable price for certain pleasures in life for millions. People actually know this themselves - we don't force people to drive at 2mph despite the fact that it would save hundreds of lives. We accept that being able to travel at reasonable speeds gives us benefits.<br /><br />I blame the fact that MPs have been professionalised and will do anything to keep their jobs.Tim Almondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13369256383976094670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23460090460409705722009-11-07T16:03:32.244+00:002009-11-07T16:03:32.244+00:00PhilC: The UK construction industry is about 2m pe...PhilC: The UK construction industry is about 2m people in a quarter of a million firms.<br /><br />50 deaths a year, from 2m people, while tragic, is <i>incredibly</i> safe. The odds of a particular construction worker dying on a given day are of similar magnitudes to him being struck by lightning or winning the lottery: negligible. I'd bet that many get killed in <i>office</i> accidents, to be honest.<br /><br />The problem is that construction and other large engineering projects involve things big enough to squish a puny human body. If you fall off, or through, the shell of a 12-storey tower, you will die. If a JCB backs over you, dead. If you stick your head under a piledriver to see why it's not driving piles, dead. Ton of bricks, call the next of kin.<br /><br />These risks are managed and mitigated well but, in the end, if you have N redundant chains supporting a load under a crane, all N <i>can</i> randomly break at the same time, and that's likely to kill someone when the load hits the floor. N+1 chains will reduce the odds a bit, but it's still possible and therefore it'll still happen occasionally, and it'll still kill anyone the falling load lands on. (If the load is too heavy, that's a different matter, of course)<br /><br />Long story short - too late! - you cannot eliminate risk.The King of Wronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04439966612208152425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-48720893996695202772009-11-07T15:36:01.726+00:002009-11-07T15:36:01.726+00:00Blimey Iain, a Top 10 Green Blog agreeing with you...Blimey Iain, a Top 10 Green Blog <a href="http://barkingside21.blogspot.com/2009/07/learning-to-manage-risk.html" rel="nofollow">agreeing with you</a>.<br />I must have a lie down and a cup of tea.Barkingside 21https://www.blogger.com/profile/05115211284179569480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17889405669134885502009-11-07T15:31:51.338+00:002009-11-07T15:31:51.338+00:00One of the reasons that we have been unable to sto...One of the reasons that we have been unable to stop the decline in educational standards has been the power of the teaching unions <br />An important reason for this is that they arrange insurance against malicious actions. One the things an incoming Conservative administration must do is to break that link <br /><br /><br />In construction my own company sells a free kit for opting out of Criminal prosecution under health and safety . It sounds sinister but what it consist if his this ..<br />All workers have to complete modules and sign at each stage declaring that they are properly equipped and trained. The soft ware keeps traceable records of each virtual confirmation and if the employee does not actually take anything in it then becomes his problem . This will not save you from Employment law but it will save your from criminal prosecution <br /><br />So why not something like that ,all parents sign a waiver of all rights of recourse for any alleged negligence for the duration of the trip. That would make it insurable ( which is the real problem). Problem solved <br /><br />NextNewmaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11922161971821380803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57904632583175034102009-11-07T15:12:20.842+00:002009-11-07T15:12:20.842+00:00There is a ridiculous phrase that keeps being bran...There is a ridiculous phrase that keeps being brandished around all the time at the moment ... <i>"if it saves the life of just one child it's worth it".</i><br /><br />It kept being trotted out all the time during the uproar about the new ISA checks that will be required by 25% of the adult population.<br /><br /><b>NO IT DAMN WELL ISN'T WORTH IT.</b> The life of one child is <i>not</i> worth making the life of 20 million others a sanitised prison cell. It's not worth destroying the trust between EVERY child and EVERY adult in order to prevent one child from becoming a victim of a pervert - nor is it even possible.<br /><br />Bad things happen. But the worst thing of all is to live in a world without trust, fun, adventure or risk.Rebel Sainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17932686715016006056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-90824211177890868662009-11-07T15:10:32.817+00:002009-11-07T15:10:32.817+00:00The purpose of any government programme is to pay ...The purpose of any government programme is to pay government workers & their friends. Safety for children or anybody else doesn't enter into it though children are easier to victimise because it is possible to demonise anybody who questions handing over billions if "its for the children".<br /><br />We have 200,000 elfin spectors in Britain. By normal economic calculations that inspecting cost society 20 times as much as it costs to actually do the inspecting that is the equivalent of 4 million people whose work is entirely wasted. No wonder our economy is collapsing as the BRICK ones grow.<br /><br />I wonder if "the children" will be grateful we turned this country into a 3rd world dump or would they rather we Guy Fawkes'd the entire political establishment.neil craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157898238945726349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49734038330686136332009-11-07T14:56:05.281+00:002009-11-07T14:56:05.281+00:00Iain, organisers and leaders of school trips do ne...Iain, organisers and leaders of school trips do need to do risk assessments. Every year children die in river, lake and sea accidents and there is nothing wrong with ensuring that teachers are ultra-vigilant when the children are in or near water.<br /><br />And, yes, of course I am happy to take children on trips.Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18133737535022180304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86806110309506498472009-11-07T14:52:06.345+00:002009-11-07T14:52:06.345+00:00If I lived in the area where you stood, I would li...If I lived in the area where you stood, I would likely vote for you iain (And I am one disillusioned voter).<br /><br />What would be a much better idea, including this, is to look at the Health and Safety system and tear it up and re-write it. I work as a event steward (I am qualified with a NVQ level 2 in stewarding) and I know all about H&S and all the risk assessments. It would be a help if the general public understood H&S as well and how to help in preventing accidents.<br /><br />Another thing stop this oh you hurt me so I am going to sue culture. A couple of years ago I was walking through a park in london, on the thames, during the London Pride celebrations, a manhole had been left semi uncovered and I put my foot and leg right into the hole and i hurt my leg on the cover. I at the time took photos of the accident and the location, but did I sue, no, why because it is not my way. We only sue because people want money, because to them money = fun. NO IT DOES NOT. Enjoying life = FUN.Nicki UK (Trans Authoress)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16735593460822074182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43353489898901411742009-11-07T14:27:55.932+00:002009-11-07T14:27:55.932+00:00JuliaM: so public safety isn't an issue for th...JuliaM: so public safety isn't an issue for the Commons to address? I would have thought keeping people safe was pretty fundamental.<br />Since you admit you don't know anything about deaths in the workplace have a look at http://www.hazards.org/deadlybusiness/escapingscrutiny.htm<br />Perhaps then you might have something more constructive to say than your fatuous final statement (pun intended).PhilChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04275653170412874271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-81949966297310178722009-11-07T14:22:54.410+00:002009-11-07T14:22:54.410+00:00I very much doubt today's kids even know where...I very much doubt today's kids even know where the Hook of Holland, Cologne, or Bad Wildungen are. Few, after all, can even manage to travel to the next county without the aid of a Satnav.<br />The irony is, that lots of the Health and Safety stupidity is from EU directives. Add that to the fear of litigation against schools from claim savvy parents and we are lucky they are even allowed to be in education at all.<br />We should make sure all future children are born in bubble wrap and lock them in a cupboard until they are 18!!Westerly21https://www.blogger.com/profile/11049378538311297491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72461589569571428562009-11-07T14:07:15.584+00:002009-11-07T14:07:15.584+00:00Elf & Safety - determined to eliminate risk fr...Elf & Safety - determined to eliminate risk from life.<br /><br />Succees, everybody dead, whether still walking around, or deceased.<br /><br />Alan DouglasAlan Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071898364060640779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-50812702694379634842009-11-07T13:40:44.112+00:002009-11-07T13:40:44.112+00:00A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what sh...<i>A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.</i>Twighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698620636313191152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-13568415616094124142009-11-07T13:36:28.223+00:002009-11-07T13:36:28.223+00:00I have taken groups of students to Israel, Cyprus,...I have taken groups of students to Israel, Cyprus, Greece, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal.<br /><br />I almost died when I found a group of my students, while I was asleep, got drunk and went skinny-dipping in Sea of Galilee! None was harmed, thank God , but I was haunted for a few weeks afterwards.<br /><br />You are right: we need to take risks, but the school trip leaders suffer nightmares you can hardly comprehend.Paul Halsallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01602075031268155220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23497853442382486562009-11-07T13:30:04.836+00:002009-11-07T13:30:04.836+00:00Very good article, Iain. But do you think the Tori...Very good article, Iain. But do you think the Tories will do that when they come into office? Because I don't.Dick Puddlecotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-61868897882886412792009-11-07T13:16:39.261+00:002009-11-07T13:16:39.261+00:00"I'd prefer an MP who tries to make sure ...<i>"I'd prefer an MP who tries to make sure fewer children lose their dads."</i> <br /><br />Not entirely convinced this is the work we want MPs doing, frankly. <br /><br />And how many of those deaths are <b>in spite of</b> the existing regulations, or just down to human error or incompetence? <br /><br />Here's an idea: perhaps we shouldn't build anything, ever again?JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-16809109344533243432009-11-07T13:16:02.113+00:002009-11-07T13:16:02.113+00:00The elf and safety bod once told me to ensure tipp...The elf and safety bod once told me to ensure tippex was locked away as a child could drink it.<br />When I said that the same child could take a biro and shove it up their nose into their brains, so should pens be locked away too?<br /><br />The bod actually begun to perspire in fear as he suddenly noticed the elastic bands, staplers, erasers,pencils etc that he was surrounded by. He clearly felt he would be lucky to escape this deathtrap of an office with his life.Bill Quango MPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14861116614665461655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74691782396335013072009-11-07T13:15:59.082+00:002009-11-07T13:15:59.082+00:00It's not risk people are afraid of, it's t...It's not risk people are afraid of, it's the "no win, no fee" legal vultures that can screw up a year of your life that cause the fear. Teachers are under siege from a useless government, a jobsworth monitoring division and a parent body that "knows it's rights" but has no idea of responsibility. You will do well to hold on to your sanity trying to unravel that lot. And then, just when you think you've won, someone will deploy the ECRH on you. Good luck.......!ChrisMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07911549263596770219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-90071843781004094512009-11-07T13:04:17.868+00:002009-11-07T13:04:17.868+00:00If you become an MP perhaps you might concentrate ...If you become an MP perhaps you might concentrate on reforming real areas of risk.<br />For instance: on average one worker a week is killed on a construction site.<br />Guess it's easy to make a noble fight against paperwork - I'd prefer an MP who tries to make sure fewer children lose their dads.PhilChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04275653170412874271noreply@blogger.com