Monday, December 04, 2006

Mourners ordered to sign safety waivers

It seems that not even a funeral is safe from the compensation culture sweeping Britain. For pallbearers are being asked to sign waiver forms in case they hurt their backs carrying the coffin into church.

Funeral directors are so worried about them slipping a disc and then suing for compensation that they are insisting relatives or friends who want to shoulder the coffin confirm in writing before the ceremony starts that they are aware of the risk.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "This would be a civil liability issue and is nothing to do with the HSE.

"But it is worth pointing out that waiver forms have no force in law and would not absolve an organisation from responsibility."

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