6 of the Strangest Health and Safety Rules and Bans
There’s no doubt that health and safety can save lives and businesses, but many people think that overzealous rules can be a bit of a step too far.
Many people are so worried about breaking the rules because of a lack of health and safety training that they will impose strange rules that can appear to be wrapping things up in cotton wool.
To evidence that here are 6 of the strangest bans from the world of health and safety over the years.
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Boiled Sweets Banned From Flying
It’s a known fact that sucking on boiled sweets helps to relieve some of the air pressure in your ears during a flight. When a 46-year-old from Kingston requested a bag of the traditional sweets, she was told that they were no longer sold on-board because of a choking hazard, leading the customer to make a complaint to the airport authority.
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Batter Scraps Scrapped in Chip Shop
Here’s a case of using health and safety as an excuse for laziness. A Whitley Bay fish and chip shop landed themselves in hot water with a customer after they refused to serve him batter scraps on health and safety grounds. After speaking with a health and safety professional, it turned out that there was no law to stop the business from selling them.
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Yo-Yos Are a No-No
One of the more contentious health and safety bans in recent memory came about when a school refused yo-yos on the premises. However, considering there is no explicit law in place to stop children from bringing these toys in but, fearful of the minor injuries they might inflict, the board stuck by their guns, infuriating parents in the process.
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Office Bans Microwaves and Kettles
It’s hard to get through the working day without a cup of coffee in your hand at all times so you really have to relate to these office employees. Citing a health and safety law that didn’t exist that would require the business to ensure the items, the employer decided to rid the office of microwaves and kettles completely.
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Kinder Eggs Not Thought of Too Kindly
Did you know that Kinder Eggs are banned from being sold in the United States of America because of health and safety concerns? U.S law makes it illegal to sell confectionery with a non-nutritive object inside. A petition was made in 2012 to legalize their distribution but it was unsuccessful as it failed to meet the required number of signatures.
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Lollipop Man Banned From Doing His Job
Perhaps the weirdest entry in this list, especially when you consider the lollipop man’s whole job was to promote safety. Instead of being able to cross the road with his trademark sign at a busy junction, the man was instructed to stand and press the button at the crossing instead after his current responsibilities were labeled as “unsafe”.
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