[modeleng] Shut yards, HSE and spoiling of fun

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007, andya@xxxxxxxx wrote:

> Why is it that visitors
> are not allowed into the yard at Bridgenorth? So many
> railways these days are shuting the yards and claiming
> health and saftey. Spoils the fun and takes away a large
> part of the experince for the younger generation.
>
> Andy

From what I've seen the issue is that people seem to mix up the Health and 
Safety aspect with the blame and litigation culture.

The yards aren't being shut because the health and safety issues, they're 
being shut because people are scared of being blamed for an accident, 
getting into trouble and/or sued.

A classis example was that the HSE was concerned about people being taken 
for footplate rides at Bressingham Steam Museum (btw if anyone knows the 
facts better than I, then please chip in, I'm only relaying it as I heard 
it).

There was an investigation/court-case where in the end HSE were happy 
that Bressingham could continue giving footplate rides.

HOWEVER, as a result of all the issues that HSE raised, Bressingham 
decided that they didn't want to continue giving the rides, because they 
then feared what would happen if an accident happened.

Personally, when I was ten years old, and went to Eaton Park (in Norwich) 
to ride on the model engineers track there, I didn't mind a jot if my 
clothes got a few cinders on them (neither did my dad, though mum wasn't 
quite as happy).

Although I've never had a major injury (and neither has anyone else whilst 
on my 'watch'); I've had plenty of minor injuries, and they never bothered 
me. Infact when I gather with old colleagues a fair proportion of our 
remeniscences revolve around humourous mishaps.

The problem is though, that over the years, there have been people who I 
have point blank refused to work with, as you just know that if they 
worked with you for long enough, someone would be injured or killed. 
Either because they aren't 'switched on'; or because they have become 
complacement.

As I see it, the HSE stuff isn't just there to protect these people from 
themselves (cleansing the gene pool, did someone refer to it as) but it's 
to stop them from cleansing YOU from the gene pool as a result of their 
mistakes.

Would anyone else care to comment, or disagree with my thoughts?

Yours,


Rich.
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