Is this the most dangerous job in the world?

Kids in this country aren't even allowed to play conkers without wearing goggles.

But in Russia, men fit air-conditioning units 16 floors up by hanging out the window with no safety net.

This fearless chap first lowered the unit out of the block of flats before enthusiastically launching himself from the window and embracing it in a giant bear hug.

The flimsy metal brackets luckily held and he managed to clamber back inside without plummeting to the street below.

The fun is not just confined to the former Soviet Union - in Egyptian capital Cairo another picture shows a man being dangled by his legs as he repairs another air-conditioning unit.

The contrast with Britain could not be greater.

Here, anyone installing such devices would no doubt need to put up scaffolding, close roads and employ hard-hatted safety officers to supervise the process.

There has been growing anger in Britain about alleged health and safety killjoys clamping down on innocuous activities.

But the Health and Safety Executive insists it is not seeking to ban everyday activities and says there are myths surrounding its business.

'There have been many reports of the HSE banning all sorts of things - flip-flops at work, knitting in hospitals, sports days, and even cuddly toys on dustbin lorries,' a spokesman said. 'This is simply not true.'