Dear Editor,
I'd like to reassure Jeremy Vine and your readers that there is nothing in health and safety law to prevent a tug 'o war match taking place (Safety fears put an end to tug-of-war, says Vine, 11 June, p7)
The event at the Chiswick Summer Fair may have been cancelled this year for many reasons, but not on health and safety orders.
Health and safety law exists to protect workers from serious injury and ill health at work, not to prevent enjoyable activities taking place at summer fairs and fetes.
Health and safety is often wrongly blamed for preventing organisations and volunteers from running events. Taking a sensible, proportionate approach is the key to making sure things go smoothly and safely.
Yours faithfully,
Judith Hackitt
Chair
Health and Safety Executive
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