Health and safety 'excuse' for unpopular decisions

Councils and companies are using health and safety rules as an excuse to make "unpopular decisions" banning low-risk activities, a watchdog says. The Health and Safety Executive has published a list of what it says were the 10 most "bizarre bans" on health and safety grounds over the past year. They include bans on kite flying on a b.each, sack races for children and pins used to secure commemorative poppies. But experts have warned of many cases where risks are underappreciated. The HSE said complying with health and safety regulations was often used as a "convenient excuse" for organisations to justify unnecessary decisions.