May contain nuts

This evening's Panorama television programme will apparently show the results of some health and safety idiocy. Quentin Letts will illustrate the nonsense represented by much H and S thinking.

The preview details include:

The Grave Toppling threat;
There are, it seems, teams of specially trained 'topple testers' employed by councils around the country whop check that gravestones are not likely to topple. If they come across any which seem a threat they insert stakes and tie the headstones to them. Their work is completed when a warning notice or other signs are displayed around the ground.

Despite the fact that the Health And Safety Executive withdrew their guidance, because they feared that councils would overreact, over the past two years at least 118 councils have engaged in topple testing at a cost of more than £1.65 million.

The Noise Threat:
There is a fear that noise at work may impair the hearing of those working. The Noise at Work Act stipulates that if the average noise over the working day or week is above 85 decibels, then hearing protect must be provided.

This is to protect producers, rather than their customers, of course. In some situations, such as concert halls, the sound level is so great is to require either protective hearing protection or a restricted repertoire. There would otherwise be no symphonies by Beethoven, Mahler or Shostakovich. There could be a similar problem with pop music.

It seems that common seas has prevailed on this one and after discussions with the HSE professional musicians are safe.

There are other groups - 85 decibels is also reached in loud conservation and in heavy traffic, so there could be a problem of bus drivers and actors, among others.