H&S gone mad

Lunchtime in London, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

So! Why did I take this? Because I wanted to show the sad and sorry state of the schoolchildren in Britain nowadays, being forced to wear dayglow jackets whenever they leave the school premises.

I was further moved to take this photo by the fact that a couple in South London have bene reported to Social Services for allowing their children to cycle to school unaccompanied (almost all of the trip is off road too). Apparently, this shows that the parents are possibly not fit to look after their kids.



Markus..@gl1 Pro User says:

i take it she didn't call the police on you then ??

CharlesFred Pro User says:

Ha ha! No she didn't, but it does look as if she has a mind to. It sickens me to see all these children having to walk around in dayglo jackets all the time.

peterpeers Pro User says:

other option: give glasses to the drivers!

Bootcrease Pro User says:

CharlesFred, what's wrong with them wearing hiviz ? If I were a teacher I'd appreciate the help it would give me in keeping track of my group.
Something bad must have happened to a plain-clothed child in these circumstances in the past. That is day, but it's quite reasonable that they're taking steps to prevent that in the future.

CharlesFred Pro User says:

I think it is bad because schools and the authorities are teaching children to be afraid to public spaces and to think of any grown up who looks at them as a potential paedophile. Bye bye innocence, hello alienation and break down of society.

Bootcrease Pro User says:

I agree with you on that but I feel this a slightly different issue. The other day a man won a case against BA after they made him change his seat on a plane because men were not allowed to sit next to unaccompanied minors. If he had been a women then it would have been okay, and that's not fair.
But I would support identifying school groups (adults included) with special clothing, I feel that is harmless and might help if there is a problem.

CharlesFred Pro User says:

As for your comment. B/c, I suppose I am guilty of mixing my stories - cycling to school and wearing dayglo jackets and I can understand that one can have differing attitudes to each.

Bootcrease Pro User says:

I think The Sun is worse than the paper to which I will not otherwise refer.

I look at the Health and Safety issue from another direction. I remember for instance the Russian nightclub fire from last December when fireworks were let off inside a hall with wooden ceilings and just one exit. Such a disaster is much less likely in the UK because of our health and safety rules, and I'm proud of that.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM8VMC7E9T8


But I do accept that sometimes it gets taken too far by people who just want to say no.


CharlesFred Pro User says:

Soory B/c, I thought I had posted a response to you but it obviously didn't reach flickr.

I suppose you are right about H+S, of course it is good to be concerned, just as long as it doesn't go too far and as long as you are aware of alternative risks which you are taking.


CharlesFred Pro User says:

As for The Scum, it too is rotten but at least you know what you are getting, whilst that other rag likes to hide itself under a cloak of respecability.

I remember that hateful article they wrote when Stephen Gately died, as just one recent example.


Markus..@gl1 Pro User says:

if you have more then one group at the same place and both groups wearing those hi viz things whats to stop the groups getting mixed up,

Afrazov says:

Sorry C but I did not get the gist of the discussion above, why exactly are the day glo vest being made compulsory for kids to wear? I mean what is the purpose behind this?

Doug Watt Pro User says:

If they're making the kids wear those day-glo vest in the UK they'll be doing the same thing in the US any day now.

Poor kids, we had so much more freedom to explore and room to play when we were kids.

Markus..@gl1 Pro User says:

@Afrazov its just in case some random car drives in to a pedestrian only area and fails to see that there are kids walking through and runs them over

CharlesFred Pro User says:

Ha ha ha, Markus, that is SO funny! And you are quite right of course!

I am sorry, Doug, but you are probably right.Unfortunately, I even saw it happen in Holland earlier last month as well.

Bootcrease Pro User says:

Am I the only one here who takes health and safety considerations seriously ?

Markus..@gl1 Pro User says:

There's H&S and there is downright over reaction, most off the good H&S get lost in the stupid stuff like having to wear safety glasses to play conkers and a woodwork class not allowed tools