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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have told DH off for driving while wearing his work lanyard

282 replies

Sequinanddiamonds · 08/10/2022 10:32

this was yesterday! We have it drilled into us where I work that we should not wear our lanyards while driving as it’s dangerous, especially if you crash and the airbag is activated. DH says I’m “overreacting” and says his work don’t tell him anything like this. Aibu to have told him off and made him take the lanyard off?

OP posts:
reigatecastle · 08/10/2022 12:38

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 08/10/2022 10:37

The same might apply to a large chunky statement necklace but I've not heard to take those off before driving

Indeed. And to be honest, it could happen if you crashed in a bus or train as well (more likely bus I suppose and I've not heard anyone being told off for wearing something around their neck on a bus!)

C8H10N4O2 · 08/10/2022 12:38

cakeorwine · 08/10/2022 12:37

There are a whole lot of things that could be risky when driving.

Seatbelts
Objects in the car
Mobile phone use
Distractions in the car
Plus the way you are driving.
Hazards when driving
The car itself - brakes, lights, fluid levels.

This is just one more thing to be aware of. Maybe there should be a check list before you start driving to ensure that you have reduced the risks to an acceptable level?

Better still - just never leave the house. Oh but it might catch fire - we are not safe anywhere!

rageapplied · 08/10/2022 12:40

I don't have keys on mine. It's literally just the lanyard. How would it be any more dangerous than my big chunky necklace?

Toomanysleepycats · 08/10/2022 12:41

I was in a car crash as a passenger. I suffered a fractured sternum, I was in hospital for five days. Told not to lift any thing heavier than a kettle for an amount of time. Not allowed to drive (DVLA were informed, so it would have be illegal). I can’t remember how long the ban was for, maybe six weeks ref car and kettle)

It was at least six months before I was 75% recovered. My husband the driver was fine.

The hospital at first were surprised at my injuries as air bags deployed. Turned out it was caused by my spectacles which I’d been wearing on a lanyard around my neck.

PaperMonster · 08/10/2022 12:41

I don’t need to wear a lanyard nowadays but we were advised not to wear them when driving for the injury potential in the event of a crash. Most of us wore keys on it as well so I guess they would be a puncture risk.

girlmom21 · 08/10/2022 12:43

The only lanyard related instruction we've had is not to wear it when away from work sites because scammers could copy it and infiltrate the company Grin that was on some online GDPR bollocks.

cakeorwine · 08/10/2022 12:44

I wonder if the people who take off their lanyard because of the risk of it causing an injury in a crash also ensure that their car is as safe as possible before they drive off - so they can reduce the risk of the accident happening in the first place?

I get that removing a lanyard is an easy win.

Are tyre pressures checked regularly?
Tyre tread?
Brake lights, indicators?
Fluid levels?

Then there's the hazards in the car itself.

It's great to remove a lanyard to reduce the risk but it's probably more useful to ensure the car is as safe as possible in the first place.

cakeorwine · 08/10/2022 12:46

DS of course would be in trouble as he is regularly on his mobile phone when I am driving so I hate to think what the airbag could do then.

But I don't think telling him to get off his phone would go down well.

seetzeros · 08/10/2022 12:55

*This is again, a report of a report with no actual details and no link to any actual data.

Every link provided so far refer to the same two stories (in one of which it wasn't the lanyard, it was keys claimed to cause the injury).*

If the proposition was to change the law, ban lanyards or to take some other form of strong action, then yes, lots of data might be required. There IS evidence at the incident level (see also the op on here who mentions her experience), the causal mechanism makes sense and the adjustment suggested (remove lanyard) is minor, so issuing guidance/advice seems entirely proportionate to the size of the problem and the weight of the evidence provided.

EleanorRavenclaw · 08/10/2022 12:57

My previous organisation, which was in an industry with a big focus on H&S, did issue a warning not to drive with a lanyard on. There had been an incident to an employee where the airbag had been deployed and the lanyard caused injury digging into the chest. Not something anyone had been conscious of previously but apparently it isn’t uncommon.

KeepOutingMyselfAnotherNameChange · 08/10/2022 13:00

I think as a grown up he can make his own choices without fear of being told off.

Wavingnotdrown1ng · 08/10/2022 13:00

Sequinanddiamonds · 08/10/2022 10:37

Our health and safety team at work drill it into us. If you crash with a lanyard with a hard plastic case around the id card, it can cause internal bleeding/injury if the airbag pushes it into you

Show quote history

My employer - a council- told its employees this information a few years ago, after some severe injuries during car accidents.

TeenDivided · 08/10/2022 13:05

Wavingnotdrown1ng · 08/10/2022 13:00

My employer - a council- told its employees this information a few years ago, after some severe injuries during car accidents.

Show quote history

I do wonder whether it isn't so much likelihood of injury, and more work places being worried about being sued due to injury caused by a work related item.

TheHoover · 08/10/2022 13:08

The only lanyard related instruction we've had is not to wear it when away from work sites because scammers could copy it and infiltrate the company Grin that was on some online GDPR bollocks.

Imposters coming in the office getting past security/reception with fake ID and stealing all the phones, handbags or computers lying around isn’t GDPR bollocks. This has happened in two previous workplaces.

Snowpatrolling · 08/10/2022 13:10

It’s on our monthly memo at work to remind us not to wear them whilst driving. It’s because of the plastic and force of the airbag can cause internal injury.

GoodnesSavePetals · 08/10/2022 13:11

We weren’t allowed to wear our lanyard out side of work due to the secret nature of work, perhaps you’ve misunderstood. Also told to tell families and friends we we worked in IT, nothing about nature of work

cakeorwine · 08/10/2022 13:11

Snowpatrolling · 08/10/2022 13:10

It’s on our monthly memo at work to remind us not to wear them whilst driving. It’s because of the plastic and force of the airbag can cause internal injury.

Do they remind you of other things to do in the car to keep yourself safe as well?

Itsokay2020 · 08/10/2022 13:13

I am more intrigued as to why people
wear a lanyard outside of their place of work? I take mine off, but that’s perhaps because o don’t want to be identifiable or approached by Joe Public in the supermarket asking questions about my employer 😁

Dguu6u · 08/10/2022 13:14

People are so ignorant. I get that it's something not everyone may be aware of, but then to be told about it and completely dismiss it? No it's not the same as a 'chunky necklace' unless that necklace contains a hard, plastic case that hangs right where your soft tissue is under your ribs. The risk comes from that being pushed into you when the airbag goes off.

And @cakeorwine did you seriously just state that seat belts are dangerous when driving? I have heard it all now.

Just take the bloody lanyard off, job done.

ChateauxNeufDePoop · 08/10/2022 13:15

Sequinanddiamonds · 08/10/2022 10:48

I didn’t tell him off like a baby ffs! I just reminded him to take it off and then told him again when he still didn’t

But he still doesn't have to

VainAbigail · 08/10/2022 13:18

GADDay · 08/10/2022 10:37

Yes. You were unreasonable. Your husband is a grown man - you don't get to tell him off.

This is really the only reply this whole thread needs.

BalmyBalmes · 08/10/2022 13:19

Itsokay2020 · 08/10/2022 13:13

I am more intrigued as to why people
wear a lanyard outside of their place of work? I take mine off, but that’s perhaps because o don’t want to be identifiable or approached by Joe Public in the supermarket asking questions about my employer 😁

Because there are jobs where people are travelling from place to place as part of their job and working day.
Think district nurse, social worker, sales person, telecoms engineer, meter readers.....

cakeorwine · 08/10/2022 13:20

And @cakeorwine did you seriously just state that seat belts are dangerous when driving? I have heard it all now

If you aren't wearing one, it could be dangerous

TeenDivided · 08/10/2022 13:20

I used to put my lanyard on when I left the house to commute to work, then end of day hang it up on coat peg. That's what DD does with her college pass. Easiest way not to forget it.

Splutteramo · 08/10/2022 13:22

Wearing glasses can be worse, but honestly, there are plenty of other genuine things in life to worry about.