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Health and safety' seems to be a catch-all excuse these days when decisions prove unpopular and difficult to explain.

Bradford Council's initial statement that it could not fly the City Hall flag at half-mast on Workers Memorial Day because of such fears only bolstered that view and exposed the authority to ridicule. The claim that the policy of limiting the number of times such a tribute is made reflects "concerns for the health and safety of the staff who have to carry out the operation, working at height and in sometimes difficult weather conditions" does not hold water.

The simple fact is that it is either too dangerous to do or it isn't. To argue any differently does not make sense. It does not suddenly become safe when it is to honour a recently deceased Freeman of the City, for example, and risky when it is in memory of those who perished in the workplace, as in this case.

It is unfortunate, too, that the issue should have come to a head over how to recognise this particular day, for it could leave people with the impression that the Council is only bothered with honouring dignitaries.

Thankfully, common sense eventually prevailed, and the decision to fly the flag at half-mast after all was taken, although the affair will undoubtedly have damaged the council's reputation. That, however, can be easily avoided in the future with a better thought out policy and fuller explanations of decisions. Just trumpeting health and safety' has an increasingly hollow ring to it.

2:25pm Monday 28th April 2008

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