How many council staff does it take to change a light bulb? One... but he needs a crane

By Hannah Roberts


How long does it take to change a light bulb? Quite some time, it would appear, if you follow health and safety regulations.

Certainly, the contractors replacing the bulb on this lamp post, which is barely ten feet tall, seemed to make a meal of it.

Onlookers said that on arrival at the site in Bognor Regis town centre, the workers spent 15 minutes assembling the world’s smallest safety enclosure around the lamp post.

Height of absurdity: On a platform some four feet up, the hard-hatted workman changes the bulb

Danger Sign: Traffic is diverted, a 2ft area around the offending bulb is cleared and the workman, complete with high-viz jacket and hard hat is prepared for launch


Having ensured the safety of the general public, the workmen, employed by council contractor Southern Electric, then took another ten minutes to manoeuvre the cab on the back of the van into position.

It was only then that they could actually attend to the job in hand – going to work in hard hat and high-visibility jacket a dizzying four feet or so off the ground.

Residents were bewildered by the unnecessarily complicated operation. Ollie Brough, who works for an insurance company, said: ‘It’s health and safety regulations taken to the next level.

‘Goodness knows how much it costs to work so inefficiently. Whatever happened to good old fashioned ladders? Twenty-five minutes to change a light bulb. Ridiculous.

Surely there must be a better use of taxpayers’ money?’

A Southern Electric spokesman said: 'Safety is our number one priority. These days we have to risk assess every process.'


source:dailymail