ABSTRACT
Laws don’t just happen. They are a reaction to a perceived need, whether real or imaginary, and
are aimed at protecting the individual and/or the community as a whole. But within the perceived need there are many trends and factors that influence attitudes towards the sort of action that needs to be taken. With time, situations and attitudes – both personal and political – change, making what was right yesterday not necessarily right today. These changes and developments are no more visible than in health and safety, an area on which a great deal of political, community and media attention has been focused and which can become very emotive issues. This chapter looks at some of the influences that affect the current laws, attitudes, interpretations and practices in health and safety.
