There was a new comedy programme that started on BBC last week, written by Ben Elton. It’s all about Gerald Wright, a Health and Safety Department chief from the fictional town of Baselricky, somewhere in the south of England. Very funny I’m sure – except it isn’t and it’s had a real panning from the critics. But the premise that it’s hilarious to make fun of people involved in protecting people at work from accidents and ill health has become generally accepted.
In recent year the trend in the media and the entertainment industry has been to mock, misrepresent and ridicule the whole idea of health and safety. This has played into the hands of a government which has an ideological agenda to remove anything that gets in the way of the pursuit of profit.
Well, just in case anyone thinks they’re right, a lack of regulation and a disregard for health and safety led to this
the collapse of a building in India which resulted in the death of a large number of Indian textile workers.
Ben Elton, who made his name as an “edgy” radical comedian really ought to know better.
Recognition, Evaluation, Control 