ABSTRACT
Accidents are unacceptable and, if one happens, someone must be punished. One such victim describes the author's experience of being prosecuted by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and the characters involved. Semantic analysis of documents from many organisations around the world shows an almost religious fervour for safety. As with any religion there are ranges of intensity and schisms. The evidence for this is explored in subsequent chapters. Out of the mass of detailed information a picture appears of high levels of infant mortality and early adult death mostly through diseases such as smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, croup and whooping cough. It was death and degradation on an industrial scale. Examination of mortality distributions indicates a gradual improvement in the nation's health. If society were intent on reducing overall accidental death it would ignore the workplace and focus more on the home and on roads.
