Doormats? eh?

[zazen999]

Evening folks.

Right. So - I was with Mr Z and his dad and family today, supping a nice coffee...when he tells us that he had received a note [they live on a new build - top floor flat - owned leasehold but paid in full about 2 years ago] - that told everyone that they had to get rid of their doormats or they would be fined £35. Ok, it's a leasehold issue; but apparently the reason they have cited is that it is European Health and Safety Law.

Now; as I spat my coffee out - and 'said what a load of old...*' they have all had this - and everyone has been good and taken it in and nobody has questioned this new law.

So - is anyone on here aware of this new law? Or is it really a load of cobblers?

* I spat my coffee out at the suggestion that it was a new law, not at the suggestion that taking doormats from communal areas is a good idea. Just saying like

[Pies]

Not sure if its "law" but the H&S" brigade want them removed as the access is a fire exit for the whole floor and there is the posibility of slippage

[cptncrackoff]

There was a bit on BBC essex about it a while ago.......
Doormats targeted in council's health and safety crackdown (From Thurrock Gazette)

[Fruit&2veg]

Unbelievable! The "Guardians of the nanny state" realy are losing the plot!

[Seahorse]

It isn't 'law', EU or otherwise but tbh in communal areas of big buildings I can see the sense. If there was a fire and someone came running out of their flat into a smoky, disorientating atmosphere, it would be very easy to trip, slip or stumble over a mat, which could be the difference between getting out or not. How hard is it to have your mat just inside your own door?

[zazen999]

It isn't 'law', EU or otherwise but tbh in communal areas of big buildings I can see the sense. If there was a fire and someone came running out of their flat into a smoky, disorientating atmosphere, it would be very easy to trip, slip or stumble over a mat, which could be the difference between getting out or not. How hard is it to have your mat just inside your own door?

I know that - it's the bit about it being European Law that's the question.

[VirginVegGrower]

Unbelievable! The "Guardians of the nanny state" realy are losing the plot!

Do you mean Guardianistas of the nanny state?
Of course it's come from the EU along with bad chocolate and even shaped GM veg.

[Seahorse]

There's no law against doormats but there are H&S regulations about 'hazards'. I suspect that '£35 fine' is taking the p*ss (not the EU fining them is it!?). What does the leasehold agreement say about communal areas?

[zazen999]

I don't know. I'm trying to find out if there is a European Law [as mentioned in the latter] stating that doormats are a hazard. I'm NEBOSH qualified in H&S - so I do know my H&S and risk assessments; the issue is that they are quoting a law that doesn't exist; hence asking on here if anyone has heard of it.

[HeyWayne]

Just change them foe Wilkommen mats. You'll be fine.

[zazen999]

Just change them foe Wilkommen mats. You'll be fine.

It's not my flat but rofl!

[VirginVegGrower]

Or one that says "Beware trip hazard" - well you ate red flagging a potential issue...

[snohare]

Yes, come to think of it, mark them with an arrow and the words "Fire Exit" ---> and suddenly they will be a safety device !
Strikes me as very poor quality risk assessment to be honest. The hazard is potentially quite severe; broken bones and the like. But what are the chances of tripping and having such an injury ? If you had thousands of people rushing out on a frequent basis, then the risk might just be worth paying attention to. Instead, the vast majority of those persons who are in a multistorey building with a blaze are usually told to stay indoors and seal their doors against smoke, so the number of persons involved is tiny and the already small risk is correspondingly decreased. When you add in the fact that those most at risk due to special needs and mobility impairment tend to live in sheltered housing or ground floor dwellings, there is little chance of harm arising from having a doormat outside your door.
But consider the potential risk of a door mat inside a flat. Unless there is a recessed well specifically for this purpose (which may itself be a hazard), the result would be either (a) melting snow and the like being taken into the dwelling and potentially causing a severe slip hazard on lino and laminate floors and the like; or, given the lack of spare floor space in modern dwellings, (b) the doormat being constantly in the way while the occupants are moving about in the flat, thus causing a constant high risk trip hazard within the home !
Someone in authority needs a slap round the lughole if you ask me.

[VirginVegGrower]

It's probably because the housing association don't want to be sued by postmen, visiting workmen etc.

[chris]

I'd tape it down (along the edges) and put a non slip backing on it