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Arena Magazine 2007 Issue 4 Winter Arena |
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Decorations dilemma
Your question answered.
I am in charge of the Christmas decorations in our office but when I went to get the the streamers from the store cupboard, they'd gone. My boss said that he'd been told we aren't allowed to put up Christmas decorations because of health and safety. Is he correct?
Certainly not! Like anything else in the office, health and safety must be considered when putting up decorations.
So the people who are putting them up shouldn't climb on desks or stand on office chairs to do it. Use a stepladder.
Don't put decorations that might catch fire close to hot surfaces - e.g. draping tinsel or streamers around hot light fittings. But there is nothing in health and safety law that says you can't have Christmas decorations. This myth is dispelled on the HSE's website as their 'Myth of the Month' at www.hse.gov.uk/myth
So tell your boss, whatever other objections he may have to Christmas decorations, he can't use 'health and safety' as an excuse.
While this advice is accurate it is not a definitive guide to the law or your contract.
If you have any concerns you should contact your local rep/official or ring the helpline 0845 6060640.
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