Last updated 15:53, Wednesday, 02 April 2008

IN an bid to publicise a new Sensible Risk campaign Copeland’s chief executive is seen clutching a giant plastic duck.

A DUCK DO: Copeland chief executive, Liam Murphy (left) with HSE regional director, David Ashton, emphasising that plastic duck racing has not been banned.

The aim is to explode the many myths spread about Health and Safety laws.

A government spokesman said: “There are lots of false myths about health and safety, one in particular is that it is too risky to run plastic duck races... this is not true.”

So Copeland Council has joined with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Sensible Risk campaign to help combat myths undermining important health and safety legislation.

Liam Murphy, Copeland’s chief executive, joined HSE North West regional director, David Ashton, to publicly sign up to Ten Principles of Sensible Risk Management, which give organisations practical advice on what risk management should – and should not - be about.

The signing took place during a meeting of Cumbria’s local authority chief executives, in Penrith. David Ashton said: “We’ve all heard the stories about health and safety banning hanging baskets or charity plastic duck races. This is not what we are about – it is not what HSE wants; not want Copeland Council wants; and not what the law requires.

“We both want to focus our attention on practical steps that protect people from real risks that can lead to injury and death; we do not want to stop people from living their lives.

“I am inviting all the North West’s local authorities to follow Copeland’s example and join us in tackling the issue by publicly signing up to Sensible Risk’. Together we can embed these principles into our working culture and ensure the decisions we make focus on the real task of saving lives and preventing injuries and ill health.”

Mr Murphy said: “Protecting the health and safety of our workers and the community we represent has always been a crucial issue for us. Over time, the stories of health and safety gone mad has undermined the good work we and other councils do to protect vulnerable members of society.

“We are proud to sign up to protecting our workers and community through sensible health and safety policies and commit to focusing on saving lives, not bureaucratic back covering.”

Further information can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/risk/