Once upon a time, Britain's Health and Safety laws were normal, just like every other country in the world which has Health and Safety laws.
But, for some mysterious reason, over the last few years Health and Safety laws in this country are getting more and more ridiculous. Here's the latest example...
A children's clown called Barbey Baloney has been banned from using balloons by a supermarket - because they are "dangerous" to children.
This is in fact the second time Barney has been the target of crazy Health and Safety officials. He was also forced to stop using BUBBLES.... in case they injure children.
Supermarket bans Barney Baloney's balloons - because they're dangerous to children
13th August 2007
Daily Mail
Children's clown Barney Baloney wasn't laughing yesterday after supermarket giant Tesco banned him from using balloons to entertain youngsters in one of their stores.
Barney, real names Tony Turner, travels everywhere with a bagful of balloons which he twists into animal shapes and hands them to children.
But in another example of health and safety gone mad Tesco have told him to keep the balloons in his pocket and entertain children with what's left of his act.
In the dumps: Barney
Instead Tony, 47, who, was booked for a five-hour stint at Tesco's Crossgate Centre store in Leeds, had to rely on magic, puppets, juggling and an emu costume to keep the youngsters amused.
Tesco say balloons have been banned because latex is used in their manufacture which could harm children.
And it's more bad new for Tony whose act has already been decimated after he was forced to stop using a bubblemaking machine.
He was refused public liability insurance because insurance companies said the bubbles might cause the children to slip and hurt themselves.
" At this rate I will have no act left. Things are going from crazy to ridiculous," said Tony, a professional children's entertainer for seven years.
" My job is to capture a child's imagination, entertain them and make them laugh.
" Twisting balloons into shape makes up 40 per cent of my act and I can't see what the problem is.
Kids love to see me make shapes and that part of my act is the childrens' favourite.
" The bubblemaking machine was popular, I used it halfway through the act and at the end and kids loved it. There were never any accidents but the machine had to go.
" I thought the rest of my act was safe. Who would thinks balloons could cause any problems or harm anyone.
"They are used all the time, at parties, at football matches and at Christmas and I can't see what problems they can cause.
" Balloons are a great way of getting the attention of children and talking to them.Then I use glove puppets, juggling, magic tricks and slight of hand to entertain them.
"Children, particularly the very young ones love the balloons, I shape them into dogs cats, giraffes snakes and hearts and they like the squeaky noise that comes from twisting them.
"I was told by my agent before I set off for Leeds that Tesco had informed him that on no account must I use balloons in my act and obviously that applies to all their stores.
"I suppose once word gets around other supermarkets who employ children's entertainers will follow suit and then we will have other organisations and worried parents banning balloons from kids' parties.
Dad-of-three Tony, from Sheffield, added: " I also go into schools to entertain children and recently in Rotherham I was told that I mustn't make guns out of balloons because it could encourage violence but I was told it was okay to make swords.
"This country is going crazy with its political correctness and health and safety issues and it's making us a laughing stock ."
Tony's bubble machine had to go when he contacted insurance companies to arrange cover.
Four turned him down over health and safety concerns and two said they did not have a suitable policy available.
He was even told a council had banned bubble-making machines because officials thought the soapy liquid was dangerous.
A spokesman for Acts and Attractions which specialises in children's entertainers and events, said: "We have been contacted by Tesco who have told us to inform all our acts not use balloons when the company hires them.
"We contacted Tony straight away because he had a booking at a Tesco store."
A Tesco spokesman said: " This is a health and safety issue. We have banned balloons because latex is used in the manufacture of them and this can trigger an allergic reaction in some children.
"We always have the welfare of children at heart."
dailymail.co.uk
But, for some mysterious reason, over the last few years Health and Safety laws in this country are getting more and more ridiculous. Here's the latest example...
A children's clown called Barbey Baloney has been banned from using balloons by a supermarket - because they are "dangerous" to children.
This is in fact the second time Barney has been the target of crazy Health and Safety officials. He was also forced to stop using BUBBLES.... in case they injure children.
Supermarket bans Barney Baloney's balloons - because they're dangerous to children
13th August 2007
Daily Mail
Children's clown Barney Baloney wasn't laughing yesterday after supermarket giant Tesco banned him from using balloons to entertain youngsters in one of their stores.
Barney, real names Tony Turner, travels everywhere with a bagful of balloons which he twists into animal shapes and hands them to children.
But in another example of health and safety gone mad Tesco have told him to keep the balloons in his pocket and entertain children with what's left of his act.
In the dumps: Barney
Instead Tony, 47, who, was booked for a five-hour stint at Tesco's Crossgate Centre store in Leeds, had to rely on magic, puppets, juggling and an emu costume to keep the youngsters amused.
Tesco say balloons have been banned because latex is used in their manufacture which could harm children.
And it's more bad new for Tony whose act has already been decimated after he was forced to stop using a bubblemaking machine.
He was refused public liability insurance because insurance companies said the bubbles might cause the children to slip and hurt themselves.
" At this rate I will have no act left. Things are going from crazy to ridiculous," said Tony, a professional children's entertainer for seven years.
" My job is to capture a child's imagination, entertain them and make them laugh.
" Twisting balloons into shape makes up 40 per cent of my act and I can't see what the problem is.
Kids love to see me make shapes and that part of my act is the childrens' favourite.
" The bubblemaking machine was popular, I used it halfway through the act and at the end and kids loved it. There were never any accidents but the machine had to go.
" I thought the rest of my act was safe. Who would thinks balloons could cause any problems or harm anyone.
"They are used all the time, at parties, at football matches and at Christmas and I can't see what problems they can cause.
" Balloons are a great way of getting the attention of children and talking to them.Then I use glove puppets, juggling, magic tricks and slight of hand to entertain them.
"Children, particularly the very young ones love the balloons, I shape them into dogs cats, giraffes snakes and hearts and they like the squeaky noise that comes from twisting them.
"I was told by my agent before I set off for Leeds that Tesco had informed him that on no account must I use balloons in my act and obviously that applies to all their stores.
"I suppose once word gets around other supermarkets who employ children's entertainers will follow suit and then we will have other organisations and worried parents banning balloons from kids' parties.
Dad-of-three Tony, from Sheffield, added: " I also go into schools to entertain children and recently in Rotherham I was told that I mustn't make guns out of balloons because it could encourage violence but I was told it was okay to make swords.
"This country is going crazy with its political correctness and health and safety issues and it's making us a laughing stock ."
Tony's bubble machine had to go when he contacted insurance companies to arrange cover.
Four turned him down over health and safety concerns and two said they did not have a suitable policy available.
He was even told a council had banned bubble-making machines because officials thought the soapy liquid was dangerous.
A spokesman for Acts and Attractions which specialises in children's entertainers and events, said: "We have been contacted by Tesco who have told us to inform all our acts not use balloons when the company hires them.
"We contacted Tony straight away because he had a booking at a Tesco store."
A Tesco spokesman said: " This is a health and safety issue. We have banned balloons because latex is used in the manufacture of them and this can trigger an allergic reaction in some children.
"We always have the welfare of children at heart."
dailymail.co.uk
