In recent years we've all heard stories regarding health and safety gone mad such as the school bell being banned due to hearing fears for children, children banned from playing with snowballs, office Christmas tree being banned from council buildings and the traditional 'Panto Dame' banned from throwing sweets at the crowd.

However, there is a serious point behind all these posts, the awareness of the dangers of loud noise, playing with snow and ice, the dangers of heat and dry Christmas trees and paper decorations and the dangers of kids being hit with sweets and the cost of compensation if anyone got hurt.

With us now in the run up to Christmas many homes, offices and factories will be filled with the joy of 'good will' and will spend hours decorating their homes and workplace with Christmas trees, paper decorations and tinsel. Many of these lights and flashing decorations will be turned from first thing in the morning till last thing at night. One of the problems that could occur is the possibility of overheating. With the weather being so cold many homes, offices and factories will have extra heating appliances running which will dry out your tree and decorations making them a fire hazard.

Each year thousands of fires occur worldwide due to missus or faulty Christmas lights, candles, and dried out decorations. This year think about health and safety and what you're switching on, and how long you're leaving them on for. This year make this a 'Season to be Jolly'.