Category Archives: Just for Fun
Zombie invasion foiled by health and safety officials
Another step too far??
Plans to hold a zombie invasion theme night at a disused hotel have been turned down because of safety concerns.
Events company Requiem Live wanted to turn the International Hotel, in Rutland Street, Leicester, into a house of horrors on May 24. It was aiming to sell up to 500 tickets to enthusiasts looking to spend the night being plagued by actors dressed as the undead.
But councillors refused to grant the firm a temporary event notice.
A licensing hearing, held at Leicester Town Hall yesterday, heard council officials were concerned about the run-down state of the building – the reason it was attractive to the company, which wanted a venue with a post-apocalyptic vibe.
Council pollution control officer Andrew Sansome told the hearing: “Building work has come to a halt, leaving it in an unfinished state.
“I believe it is unsuitable for a playground-type chase event with participants who would be in a highly charged state.” He said the event would use four floors from the basement up but there was a limited electricity supply, uneven floors, broken windows and asbestos.
Mr Sansome warned of the potential for accidents and said there were concerns about “noise break-out from the occasional scream”.
Oliver Snedker, of Requiem, said safety fears were based on assumptions. He said the £25-a-head event, which would see people walking a pre-determined route, encountering zombie volunteers, would be marshaled and all participants would have a head torch.
There would be public liability insurance of up to £10 million. He said the event would not involve chasing and customers would be briefed not to run, except in one open area in the basement car park.
“We are responsible for providing a safe event but the customers are responsible for themselves,” he said.
Councillors raised concerns about plans to sell alcohol but were told it would be available only at the end of the experience and would not be allowed back into the zombie zone. Mr Snedker said there would be a maximum of 250 to 300 people in the building at any time and only 100 of them were likely to be moving, with the rest waiting their turn.
Richard Wheatcroft, of Requiem, said the company used one floor of the building in a similar event last year without any objection from the council. Mr Snedker said any hazards would be made safe by a contractor. He said: “We believe we have suitably offered remedies to the concerns raised.”
Licensing committee chairman John Thomas said: “Our major concern is the possible risk to the public posed by the state of the building.” He told Mr Snedker and Mr Wheatcroft another building might be better and said: “We think it’s a great concept. We feel you will take this as a learning exercise.”
After the hearing, Mr Snedker said: “We are disappointed given we have used the venue before without objection by the council.
“Nevertheless, we appreciate the concern and will be considering the alternatives.”
Article shared from The Leicester Mercury.
What is COSHH? Safety Symbol Quiz
What is COSHH?
COSHH stands for ‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health’ and under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, employers need to either prevent or reduce their workers’ exposure to substances that are hazardous to their health.
COSHH Safety Symbol Quiz
Regardless of where you work, the majority of organisations today use substances that could cause harm to employees, contractors and other people, and therefore it’s vital that you learn about COSHH. That’s why ROSPA has come up with this simple COSHH quiz aimed at both amateurs and experts alike. Have a look at the COSHH symbols below and see how many you know and tell us your answers by leaving a comment. Good luck, and stay safe…
Post shared from ROSPA’s own blog at http://rospaworkplacesafety.com/2014/04/08/what-is-coshh-quiz/
The Virgin Atlantic Safety Film
Virgin Atlantic’s first new safety film in over a decade, takes bored travellers on a fast-paced voyage through classic film genres.
Virgin decided to relay the (sometimes boring and ignored) information in a new animated film that using one passenger’s apathy towards in-flight safety messages as a plot device. In Trip, the weary flier succumbs to daydreaming as a stewardess speaks over a tannoy, and suddenly finds himself subsumed into a series of film genres that reference the safety procedures she speaks about.
My favorite part is the Yellow Submarine style segment! What’s yours???
Click here to see the video, courtesy of The Telegraph.
