We have all heard our fair share of silly Health and Safety excuses, but this health and safety ban is one of the more ridiculous stories we have come across.
The University of East Anglia announced that they will not be offering a Mortarboard throwing photo opportunity at this year’s graduation celebration following a string of flying Mortarboard related injuries they have experienced over the years.
It is understandable why they would want to be cautious about offering the photo op to newly graduated students, especially when last year one of their students ended up in A&E after a receiving a serious injury from a Mortarboard throw, and it is good that they have taken steps to make the traditional celebration safer, however imposing an outright ban on the activity and getting the students to pose as if they are throwing the headwear for it to be photoshopped in later may not be the correct way to handle the situation.
This yet another example of Health and Safety Going mad. Yes this is certainly a way in which a mortarboard accident can be avoided, but it certainly does seem like the university is damping the graduate’s celebrations.
The HSE have condemned this this ban saying that “the chance of being injured by a flying mortarboard is incredibly small and its is over the top to impose and outright ban. We usually find that the concern is actually about the hats being returned in good condition”
It makes sense that the companies are concerned about the condition that their gowns and mortarboards are returned in is understandable, and if this was the case, why don’t they just come forward in saying so – instead of hiding behind health and safety?
In conclusion, these silly health and safety myths gives health and safety a bad rep, the more companies hide behind silly health and safety excuses, the more people are going to ignore the serious regulations and end up causing a serious accident.
We believe that more work needs to be done to help discourage companies from hiding behind silly health and safety excuses. For example, instead of banning mortarboard throwing they could cordon an area off where the throwing will take place, and perhaps get the students to throw the hats slightly forward so they land on a soft mat instead of directly up in the air? This solution, to us at least, seems like the better idea, as the condition of the headgear is not compromised while the students are still able to take part in a university tradition.
For more Health and Safety news, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
