Q - that was uncalled for and not in the least bit funny.

I'm a Health and Safety bod... It's part of my job to make sure accidents don't happen.

A dead and dried tree is, without doubt, flammable. Add jolly Christmas lights that we all know get knocked about a bit, put away for months on end in places where rodents can nibble and dampness seep in... Or maybe a few pretty candles - always popular at Christmas...

"It's a sobering fact that you're 50% more likely to die in a household fire during Christmas than at any other time of the year. -
DCLG statistics on accidental dwelling fires 2000 - 2004"


"Each year, according to the United States Fire Administration, more than 33 million American homes incorporate a natural tree in their holiday season celebration, and Christmas trees account for 200 fires annually, resulting in six deaths, 25 injuries and more than $6 million in property damage. Fire safety precautions are essential in that a burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.

Christmas tree fire safety begins with selecting an appropriate tree. If the tree has been freshly cut, needles should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the trunk should be sticky to the touch. If you bounce the tree trunk on the ground and too many needles fall off, it is a sign that it has dried out and is a fire hazard.

Placement of the tree is extremely important. Trees should not be placed close to a heat source, including heat vents and fireplaces, since the heat will dry out the tree and make it more susceptible to ignition from heat, flame, or spark. Keeping the tree stand filled with water at all times is crucial as is not keeping a tree up for more than two weeks.

The last step in the fire safety process for Christmas trees is to dispose of the tree properly. When the tree becomes dry, it must be removed from the residence promptly. It is important to resist the temptation to place tree branches in a fireplace or wood stove.

A related holiday fire safety issue involves holiday lights. Only lights that are listed by an approved testing laboratory should be used. Before installing the lights it is important to inspect for excessive kinking or wear, frayed wires, gaps in insulation, bare spots, and cracked or broken sockets."

Think of it the opposite way... if the tree caught fire, and like as not it was obstructing a door or a gangway, how would you feel if your child was the one trapped in the classroom?

I know people jump up and down and scream that H&S is stifling our creativity and nannying us, but when you look at the huge amount of preventable accidents and the ever-astonishing way that people find to remove themselves from the Gene pool (aka the Darwin Awards), then you have to wonder are H&S actually doing enough?!

LTS