Afgahanistan

[anotheoldgit]

In the futile quest to try and win the hearts & minds of the Afgahans our troops are being sent out on these very dangerous missions just wearing soft hats, Is this then not a serious breach of the Health & Safety Act, since one is even compelled to wear a "Hard Hat" just to enter a building site.

[bookermel]

British health and safety legislation applies only within the baseline of Great Britain, to certain offshore facilities and to certain other acitviites within territorial waters (12 miles), subject to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (Application Outside Great Britain) Order 2001. It does not apply to activities outside of these areas, eg. it does not apply to military operations in warzones such as Iraq. Northern Ireland has its own health and safety legislation and enforcing authority (HSENI)

http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/armedforces/faq s.htm

[Lonnie]

The reason for soft hats, is probably to show the locals that the troops are friendly, a daft excercise at the best of times,

I say this, because this is what we were told in various peacekeeping missions we were sent on, although that was a long time ago, the premise probably won't have changed.

Didn't work then, and is not working now.

[Lonnie]

Continued.

Hard hats aren't meant to stop bullets, never were, their purpose is primarily to stop glancing blows, shrapnel etc.

[Toureman]

I spent 22 years in The Royal Marines Commandos but I am always amazed at WMs vast military knowledge, Shrapnelfied?

No member of the armed forces likes wearing steel Helmets as they restrict movement, sight, are heavy and also hot. They offer very little protection.

[anotheoldgit]

I think some of you guys took this question a little too seriously it was meant only to be a tongue in the cheek one.
"bookermel" went way over the top with his knowledge of The Health & Safety at work act Act. And "Lonnie" we all know that hard hats will not stop a direct hit from a bullet.
But they have saved many lives in the past just ask any WW2 Vet. But why do the British Army have that stupid design hard hat, it makes it very hard to sight a weapon when wearing one, the US design is much better.

[VINNY100_3]

Anyways....everything is going to be okay now.British soldiers are allowed to grow Beards in Afganistan.(:-)

[taff1949]

the most important thing our boys should be issued with is a flight ticket home, what are we doing there? the last couple of times the british army was deployed in afghanistan was to no avail , they even whupped the russians. let the ragheads shoot themselves if they want to

[jake-the-peg]

So why did you post a question about health and safety with regards to Afghanistahn and then say it's over the top when bookermel rightly points out that whilst it applies to the armed forces it doesn't apply overseas?

Or is it that you were just being "smart" and got your bluff called?

[Toureman]

I agree with WM on one thing, "send them a bucket of instant sunshine"!