“I’ve seen them given”
1st November 2013
Share this article
An old soap box favourite I know, but since when did a slight nudge on an elbow unbalance a running footballer to the extent that he loses total control of his legs so much that he ends up rolling around on the floor with a pleading look at the ref for a penalty?
Why is it that this athlete, whose job it is to train all week to hone his muscles to produce extraordinary fitness, strength and balance, falls over when he’s breathed on if he’s within 18 yards of the goal?
Strange, because when this same player is in the centre circle, he seems to be able to retain his balance whilst leaping through the air like a gazelle, heading the ball forward , spinning off the torso of an opponent, landing backwards, and pirouetting gracefully into a sprint..
Frustrating enough without some Einstein of a commentator uttering those immortal words “I’ve seen them given, “The defender should have known better, or “he was entitled to go down. Nonsense. It was a dive, but not only do the players see it as part of football, many commentators and fans seem to think it is too.
‘If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em’? A pretty lame excuse if it’s looting in a riot or improving the lie of your golf ball. However, good enough for a lot of us when it comes to ‘slip and trip’ injuries or finding a way to blame someone else for our own misfortune?
Sure, it’s only right that if a business causes someone harm through carelessness or being reckless, then they should compensate the injured party accordingly, but how many of the claims we see now would not have been made had it not been for badgering from an opportunistic firm of solicitors?
Apparently more than 350,000 businesses in the UK don’t have employers liability insurance, a legal requirement if you employ anyone. They face fines of up to £2,500 a day by the Health and Safety Executive.
In the face of the industry that has grown out of these claims, and despite efforts to stop it getting out of control, businesses big and small must make sure that they protect themselves with public liability and employers liability, and written and recorded Health and Safety policies. If you need some Peace of Mind that you have made the appropriate arrangements for your business contact our Insurance and Health and Safety departments for advice before it’s too late.
