E010:07 16 March 2007

“We are about saving lives, not stopping living” HSE tells carers

Don’t wrap children up in cotton wool – we are here to save lives, not stop living! That’s the message from Jonathan Rees, Deputy Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive, speaking to childcare professionals at The Barnardo’s Annual Conference: 'Childhood Matters' in London today (20 March 2007).

Jonathan explained the importance of risk and adventure in children’s lives and recognising the need to manage it. On closer investigation, many of the concerns we read about are based on myths. Conversely, when something goes tragically wrong, there is often a media and public outcry that “something must be done!” It is vitally important to get a balance between the two extremes.

Jonathan Rees said, “ Everyday a vast number of activities go ahead without a hitch. If we were to stop play and adventure activities we would deny children their right to learn, develop and have fun. And any gain in safety would be far outweighed by increasing rates of obesity and related disease. HSE has consistently called for adventure and activities to continue – with the risks being responsibly managed.

"It is worth pointing out that many of the concerns we read about health and safety are based on myths.  For instance:  HSE does not expect risk assessments for everyday low risk activities like playing conkers and contrary to popular belief - teachers are not personally sued for damages - we cannot find a singe example of an individual teacher being sued in the past 5 years."

“The Health and Safety Executive is keen to stimulate a broader debate in this area. The HSE’s 10 sensible risk principles were launched in August last year and further work has been done with DFES on its “Learning outside the classroom” manifesto. Simple, practical advice is available on how to do risk assessments, encouraging everyone to think carefully about the right risks and not write at length about the trivial ones. The HSE has consistently sought to learn from tragic accidents and to disseminate lessons. We will prosecute on those very rare occasions when there is flagrant disregard for sensible precautions.”

The message to children, parents, carers and teachers is that we want to save lives not stop living. Risk will not ruin childhood; but ill-managed and over protective actions could do so.

Sensible risk management IS about:

• Ensuring that workers and the public are properly protected;
• Providing overall benefit to society by balancing benefits and risks, with a focus on reducing real risks – both those which arise more often and those with serious consequences;
• Enabling innovation and learning, not stifling them;
• Ensuring that those who create risks manage them responsibly and understand that failure to manage real risks responsibly is likely to lead to robust action; and
• Enabling individuals to understand that as well as the right to protection, they also have to exercise responsibility.

Sensible risk management IS NOT about:

• Creating a totally risk free society;
• Generating useless paperwork mountains;
• Scaring people by exaggerating or publicising trivial risks;
• Stopping important recreational and learning activities for individuals where the risks are managed; and
• Reducing protection of people from risks that cause real harm and suffering

Notes to editors

1. Jonathan Rees is speaking at Barnardo’s Annual Conference: Childhood Matters 20-21 March 2007, a two day national conference for senior managers and policy makers in childcare services, education and social services providing policy and practice insight for senior decision makers and professional staff working at all levels with children.
2. Five Steps to Risk Assessment , launched in August 2006 and example risk assessments can be found on the risk management web pages on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/risk the pages are written in everyday language for managers, not health and safety experts and include links to more information and a section for frequently asked questions.

Press enquiries

HSE Newsdesk 020 7717 6700
Out of hours 020 7928 8382

Public enquiries

HSE's InfoLine 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park , Caerphilly CF83 3GG

HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/