When an overreacting council seems to be interfering a little bit too much
What happened?
Glamorgan were playing Derbyshire in a professional county cricket match in Swansea. It had rained a lot and the outfield was wet.
The fielding side, Derbyshire, requested sawdust be placed on the outfield, so the bowlers can use it to soak up some of the dampness when they are running in to bowl, reducing the risk of them slipping and hurting themselves. This is common practice in cricket, and has been for ever.
The request for sawdust was declined. The council had ‘allegedly’ banned it because of its carcinogenic properties.
Legal Outcome
N/A
What can we learn from what happened?
Now, this is how the story was reported in the media, different versions will vary, and the council referred to what happened as a ‘misunderstanding’. The fact, however, that there was a story to report probably indicates that something must have happened.
Wood dust can be very harmful, and is classified as carcinogenic (can cause cancer), but this level of severity would only apply when there is long periods of exposure, high concentration, an absence of protection, lack of ventilation or extraction etc etc. Protecting employees from wood dust in an industrial working environment is, quite rightly, a big deal. But wood dust (sawdust in this case, it’s the same thing) is not in itself harmful in small quantities, and certainly should not be banned. If that were the case, then nobody would do any DIY.
There is a serious side to this, and that is the reminder that wood dust is a hazard. But it is also very funny that the issue should arise in the first place – a definite case of ‘health and safety gone mad’, made even more ironic because sawdust is itself used as a safety measure to help keep bowlers safe.
Source of Information
Wales Online