Snow clearing health and safety myth shattered
Health and Safety Minister Lord Freud is urging a common sense approach to clearing snow from footpaths and pavements.
As people across the UK brace themselves for the first arctic blast of the season, Health and Safety Minister Lord Freud is urging a common sense approach to clearing snow from footpaths and pavements.
There are no health and safety regulations that prevent people from clearing snow at their home, their business or at their neighbours’ homes, despite newspaper stories in previous winters to the contrary.
Now ministers want to pre-empt the usual health and safety myths ahead of the first snowfall that could prevent people from doing a good deed to help stop others falling and injuring themselves on a path or pavement.
Minister for Health and Safety Lord Freud said:
People need to be aware that they will not be reprimanded for doing a good deed by clearing ice and snow. The truth is very simple: you can clear ice and snow from footpaths and pavements but always be careful that you don’t put yourself in danger.
Countless lives have been saved and injuries prevented because of robust health and safety practices. But bogus excuses give real safety laws a bad name and stop people from taking action.
The government has put together guidance so people are aware of the facts, including practical tips online for anyone clearing snow.
It forms part of the government’s drive to debunk health and safety myths, with members of the public being encouraged to report potty excuses masquerading as health and safety to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Myth Busters Challenge Panel
The panel has busted 336 myths since it was launched in April 2012.
Chair of the Health and Safety Executive Judith Hackitt said:
Anyone can clear ice and snow from public spaces, so don’t be put off because you’re afraid someone will get injured. Remember, people walking on snow and ice have a responsibility to themselves to be careful.
Health and safety legislation is designed to protect people where there is a genuine danger that someone could be killed or seriously injured, not to stop people from getting on with their lives and certainly not to stop people from reducing the risk for themselves and others by clearing snow and ice.
Find out more about clearing snow from a road, path or cycleway
The Myth Busters Challenge Panel
The DWP and HSE are committed to debunking health and safety myths and we set up the Myth Busters Challenge Panel, giving the public the confidence to stand up to jobsworths.
The Panel looks into complaints regarding advice given by HSE or local authority inspectors, which people think is incorrect or goes beyond what is required.
Contact the Panel if you suspect a case of a myth masquerading as health and safety.
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