I had an inspector come over this morning to look at a water damaged cupboard in the kitchen. Anyway, he's not a maintenance guy, only an assessor of sorts.
Anyway, at our place we take off our shoes before coming in. So I asked him kindly to take the boots off, especially when I saw how dirty and muddy it was - if it looked half decent I would've let him walk in with it on.
He seemed reluctant. He said, "If I get hurt you will be liable for it according to health and safety". However, he eventually did take his boots off.
Seriously, this is just health and safety gone mad. There is no common sense anymore. You are an inspector here to look at the water damage to a cupboard in the kitchen. You aren't climbing into the roof or drilling any holes. Show some respect before coming into someone else's house!
I take health and safety seriously but honestly, it doesn't give any person the right to enter a house with muddy boots on.
OK, rant over, time to carry on with my day... :P