Let’s talk health and safety. Health and safety in the Netherlands is not the same as health and safety in England. And I saw the perfect example at the airport.
Flying
I returned to England for a couple of days and I flew, for the first time in many years. The idea was to fly to Southampton from Amsterdam. However, some wise guy apparently thought parking our plane in the vicinity of Rotterdam* was easier. Hence we were bussed from the Schiphol airport departure lounge to the plane.
*(For those not au fait with the British sense of humour, the plane was not actually parked in Rotterdam….. but it might as well have been given how long our bus ride was.)
We piled off the bus onto the Schiphol airport tarmac and formed a semi-orderly queue to go up the plane steps. (The reason I say semi-orderly is because there were Brits and many a Dutchman queueing. I think we all know which nationality was orderly and which nationality needs some serious queueing schooling and no one needs to be publicly shamed. Toch?)
Leaving Schiphol – Nobody Tempted to Put Their Head in the Way of the Plane Propellor
The plane was small. Not like a ‘two seater’ smaller, but by no means a jumbo jet. The little plane had little propellors, which were slowly turning while we queued to get onto the plane.
Surprisingly no one leapt from the queue to put their head in the way of the propellors, just to see what would happen. In fact, no one moved out of the semi-orderly line at all. Instead everyone continued to shuffle forward to get on the plane.
No deaths, beheadings, or even slight mutilations. Common sense and self-preservation prevailed. Hurrah for health and safety in the Netherlands.
Leaving Southampton – Nobody Could Put Their Head in the Way of a Propellor, Even if they Wanted to
My return flight from Southampton a few days later involved us walking a few meters from the departure gate to the airplane steps. Same type of airplane. small. Same little propellors. with one difference. This time the propellors were not moving. Completely stationary.
However, we were all mighty relieved to know despite their non-movement we were kept safe by British health and safety measures. Thanks to a fluorescent green band placed strategically around the side of the plane no passenger could end up in a dangerous life threatening incident.
No passenger could get any closer to the plane than the steps leading up to its front door. No chance of a confused pensioner heading for the back of the plane, decapitating themselves on a non moving propellor. Certainly no chance a tall Dutchman should bang his noggin against the wing. And definitely no room for a freak accident involving a propellor and a curious passenger.
More Health and Safety Measures, Just in Case
And in case we hadn’t seen the fluorescent green tape lining the plane perimeter, airport personnel adorned with fluorescent green jackets were strategically placed to ensure no passenger strayed.
In short, the only way any passenger was getting anywhere near the plane was upwards via the steps.
Too Little Health and Safety in the Netherlands? Too Much in Britain?
I’ve heard lots of people that have moved to Britain talking about the craziness of health and safety policies there.
I’ve also heard lots of comments from family. Particularly when they are over here in the Netherlands, pointing out situations that would NEVER be allowed in Britain. They comment that the British people are no longer allowed to rely on common sense to keep themselves out of dangerous situations.
And my airport adventure showed me how justified those feelings are. The Dutch authorities trust that no one will be tempted to put their head into the path of a plane’s propellors. The British authorities remove the temptation altogether with fluorescent tape and staff in fluorescent jackets. Because you just never know.
Over to You
Has British health and safety gone too far? What are health and safety measures like where you live?
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