Chapter 25
Dangerous Nuisances and Hazards to Health
ELIMINATION OF DANGEROUS NUISANCES OR OF HAZARDS TO HEALTH
8.a. One is allowed, indeed there is a positive obligation, to remove hazards from a place where people are liable to come to harm, but a distinction must be made between
1) risks of injury involving only one or two people and
2) risks of injury involving several persons
8.b. 1) In a place where only one or two people are present and they run a risk of physical injury,a) one may, in averting the danger, move a muktzeh object-preferably in an unusual or indirect manner, as explained in Chapter 22 paragraphs 34 and 35-but
b) one may not otherwise violate any prohibition
2) a) On the other hand, the rule is different in a place where more than two people are present (even if it is in a private house) and there is a risk of injury to one or more of them.
b) Here, one is permitted to violate Rabbinical prohibitions in the course of averting the danger.
8.c. If there is any risk of danger to the life of even one individual,
1) one may, in obviating that danger, violate even prohibitions laid down by the Torah, and
2) the faster one acts the better.
3) See also Chapter 32, paragraph 16 and Chapter 41 paragraph 1.
