ABSTRACT
The tragedy of 1883 in Sunderland when 186 children were crushed to death is an example of decisions being made without thinking through the possible consequences. The decision to lock one of a pair of swing doors was basically an alteration to the design of the theatre, and it is nowadays a commonplace that any alteration to a design must be assessed for hazards that might be created as a result of the alteration. Risk and hazard identification are concepts that can be taught to primary school children. Spouses, children, parents, brothers, sisters, friends — all are affected. Many believe it would have a salutory effect on a company’s safety policy if the Directors were the ones who had to call on a family to break the news that their breadwinner has been totally incapacitated. Safety legislation has come a long way since the Code of Hammurabi but there is a limit to what it can achieve.
