From time to time health and safety is cited as a reason for doing something (or, more often, for not doing something), when on closer inspection it becomes apparent that H&S has little or nothing to do with it, and is being used as a spurious excuse, a convenient all-purposes cover to conceal the real reason.

In the UK this happened so often in the media that the Health and Safety Executive felt obliged to create its Mythbusters challenge panel.

In New Zealand the latest case appears to be the mayor of Tauranga citing H&S as a reason why the council could not intervene to assist beggers and rough sleepers. It is difficult to imagine which law he is referring to.

If you come across further examples of the mis-use of H&S then feel free to note them in this thread.