Before the Richard Hammond crash, Jeremy Clarkson often bleated on about having to fill out Health and safety” forms for BBC’s Top Gear.
Interestingly, despite all these forms, the BBC is criticised, by the Health and Safety Exceutive, on several grounds regarding the Richard Hammond accident. In fairness, the Executive also point to several precautions which saved Hammond’s life. The Guardian reports:
The BBC’s safety guidelines were criticised today by an investigation into the high-speed crash that nearly killed Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond.
A report by the Health and Safety Executive identified failings in the BBC’s “safety management systems” but ruled that no one should be prosecuted over the incident.
Today’s HSE report pointed to failings in the BBC’s risk assessment of Hammond’s daredevil stunt in September last year, in which he drove a jet-powered dragster at speeds of up to 288mph.
The BBC was also criticised for the way in which it procured services from the company that owned the car and trained Hammond for his stunt.
Identifying eight key faults, the HSE said the BBC had failed to allow sufficient time for the planning, preparation and consultation for the shoot at Elvington airfield, near York.
The BBC did not make “full and appropriate use” of in-house support and external technical resources, the watchdog added.
Liberal Burblings 