I WOULD like to point out to Mr McMulkin that I took issue with David Milne’s original claim that health and safety is not now taken seriously.

There is no evidence for that and plenty of evidence to the contrary.

Since the 1974 Health and Safety at work Act, workplace deaths, once numbered in the thousands have been significantly reduced and amen to that.

What is giving health and safety a bad name is that relatively safe industries are being treated as though they were as dangerous as construction or mining.

Risk is no longer assessed, but assumed. Schools where workplace deaths are minimal are being subjected to a level of bureaucracy that is disproportionate to the risks.

Defying the health and safety lobby is perhaps now one of the most dangerous activities you can engage in. Behind every case, there is an ambulance-chasing lawyer ready to bleed every penny out of schools, hospitals and local authorities.

Not one, not the HSE, lawyers or union health and safety reps have any interest in reducing this nonsense.

Health and safety has gone from being a matter of public concern to a huge self-perpetuating industry bringing misery on good citizens trying to help others.

Cllr Martyn Cox Westhoughton North and Chew Moor