Ten Alps

PANORAMA: May Contain Nuts

20th April 2009

The 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act began with the noble aim of making Britain safer, protecting workers from dangerous conditions of heavy industry.  Yet today, health and safety officials seem to be ready to pounce on all aspects of our lives, from music-making to leaving the dead to rest in their graves.

Journalist Quentin Letts separates myths from reality in this popular media story never far from today’s headlines.

Quentin goes on a one day `Ladder Awareness Course, and visits a graveyard struck by a local council’s interpretation of health and safety rules where he meets a new breed of inspector – a ‘topple etester’ (sic!).  He also speaks to musicians worried by new sound level regulations bound to affect the way they play.

A major driver for the spread of health safety anxiety is the compensation culture. No Win, No Fee offers from ‘claims farmers’ and lawyers encourage people to make claims for any accident.  A senior lawyer admits that these companies are an embarrassment to the legal profession.

There is a sombre side to Quentin’s journey. The construction industry has among the highest levels of deaths and serious injury in the UK. Currently only 125 inspectors visit the several hundred thousand building sites in the UK although the Health and Safety Executive plans to increase the number by 50.  Quentin meets the family of a 17 year old apprentice who died falling 60 foot from scaffolding inside a sewerage tank.  

He asks whether the agencies in charge are enforcing the wrong priorities.

Producer/Director Angie Mason
Associate Producer Alice Yglesias
Production Manager Clare Lucas
Executive Producers Roger Graef Eve Kay

A Films of Record Production for the BBC