Weekend Issue -Safety in the News!

Happy Saturday!

In this article we will be moving away from our usual focus sectors and turn our attention instead to the world of sport. Aside from Carlos Sainz’ first win in Formula 1 and a determined performance by Lewis Hamilton, one of the main talking points from the race was the dramatic crash of the Alfa Romeo driver, Zhou Guanyu. On the very first corner, Zhou’s car ‘flipped several times at almost 200mph and smashed into the grandstand barrier,’ yet walked away unscathed.

You may be wondering the exact relevance of this… We are at the end of the day a Health and Safety publication, not a motorsport one. Well, Zhou accredited his safe escape to the Halo modification, ‘a wishbone-shaped titanium bar that sits on the top of the cockpit of the [f1] car.’ The invention was met, however, with controversy with Hamilton famously calling it the ‘worst-looking modification [in the sport’s history.’ It is clear, though, that the feature has saved countless lives in the sport.

Often in the world of health and safety, it can feel like some of the policy or procedures you encourage clients to implement can feel unnecessary or un-aesthetic. But it only takes one freak event to appreciate why legislation or policy is why it is.

So next time you are reminding a client to inspect a ladder on site, think of Zhou Guanyu.