Today's winner is Great Britain's Health and Safety Executive aka HSE. They get the award for the following.
A Cornish village drama group has had to register a toy gun with the police to comply with health and safety rules.Someone may get an eye knocked out by the bang flag. Just like children's heads may be hurt by candy hitting them there. We can't have that.Carnon Downs drama group in Cornwall have also had to keep their plastic cutlasses and wooden swords locked up for the pantomime, Robinson Crusoe.
Producers of the show called the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) rules "farcical".
A spokesman for the HSE said the rules were designed to make risks "sensibly managed".
The climax of the show is a fight in which actors use replica 4ft-foot long plastic cutlasses.
There is also a toy gun which produces a flag saying "Bang".
The directors contacted police after receiving advice from the HSE and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association.
The HSE have a page on their website called Entertainment Information Sheet 20 which lays down strict rules for the handling of guns, swords and other weapons on set.
Drama group co-director Linda Barker said: "The cutlasses count as weapons even though they are replicas and made of plastic and apparently they could be mistaken for real ones.
"Our only gun was a panto pistol which produces a flag with the word bang on it.
******
Neighbourhood beat officer Pc Nigel Hyde said: "We have been informed and made a note.
"It seems a bit unusual but other forms of replica weapons have been used to carry out crimes and the consequences have been serious."
A spokesman for the HSE said: "We do not want to stop people putting on pantos or having fun as long as the risks are sensible managed."
These rules are farcical as the producers said. That's why Health and Safety Executive aka HSE is today's Knucklehead of the Day.
Note- The US isn't immune to knuckleheads worried about plastic swords and other theatrical tools. Just read about Yale Dean of Student Affairs Betty Trachtenberg.
Hat tip- Overlawyered
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Comments (5)
"It seems a bit un... (Below threshold)1. Posted by JSchuler | January 19, 2008 7:00 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If that's the standard, then won't everyone have to register their index fingers and jackets when they visit Britain?
1. Posted by JSchuler | January 19, 2008 7:00 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 19, 2008 19:00
2. Posted by captaindog | January 19, 2008 8:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I guess assault rifles are out of the question? What a bunch of wuss-boys.
2. Posted by captaindog | January 19, 2008 8:19 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 19, 2008 20:19
3. Posted by Maggie | January 19, 2008 8:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
You'll have to register forefingers and thumbs,
as they could represent a hand held weapon.
Not just coats, anything with a pocket will need registering because someone might think they are hiding a weapon.
When will they register and then outlaw all movies,programs, and plays that portrait violence. Because some one might think the props are real.
/extreme sarcasm
3. Posted by Maggie | January 19, 2008 8:31 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 19, 2008 20:31
4. Posted by Oyster | January 20, 2008 6:55 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
When toy guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have toy guns.
4. Posted by Oyster | January 20, 2008 6:55 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 20, 2008 06:55
5. Posted by spurwing plover | January 20, 2008 10:12 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Some liberal dim-bulb wants to ban toy guns in their community i mean it just never ends this liberal stupididy. I mean they must have watched that crappy movie TOYS. Maybe the HSE should be made to register for being a brainless idiot
5. Posted by spurwing plover | January 20, 2008 10:12 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 20, 2008 10:12