Posted: Monday 4 July 2011
Health & Safety – Restoring Common Sense?
I've blogged previously on the Government's Red Tape Challenge which aims to get rid of unnecessary red tape:-
Which Regulations Have The X Factor
Equality Act Red Tape Challenge
On 30 June the focus of the Red Tape Challenge moved on to Health and Safety and that will remain the focus until 21 July.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling, launching the Red Tape Challenge on health and safety regulations, said
“We have already started sweeping reforms to health and safety, but need the experience and insight of those most affected by red tape to help us root out needless bureaucracy and restore common sense to the heart of the system.”
The foundation of Health and Safety law is the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and all regulations flow from that. There are a great many regulations and to assist the consultation process comments are invited on four topic areas:
Major hazard industries
Higher risk workplaces
Dealing with hazardous chemicals and materials
General health and safety in the workplace
Fire safety will be dealt with under the consultation relating to Construction and Housing which goes live in November.
The Government have appointed Professor Löfstedt, a Risk Management Expert, to undertake a review of the raft of health and safety regulations and it is hoped that a report will be published in the autumn.
You can have your say here. It will be interesting to see what the outcome is as health & safety is certainly an area which has come in for some criticism over the past few years with many suggesting that we are overly regulated.
