Chancellor launches major review of business health and safety law
November 30, 2007
The Chancellor, Alistair Darling, has launched a major review of business health and safety laws
The review, announced in a speech at the annual conference of the Confederation of British Industry on 27 November 2007, will ask employers, workers and experts for their views on how the health and safety system can be revamped, focusing on small and low risk businesses.
A source at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) said that many small employers have limited resources, find it difficult to work out what broad health and safety duties mean for their workplace and are unsure of when to take advice, and from whom.
The review by BERR will look at how the Government can make it easier for these businesses to follow health and safety laws and prevent their workers getting ill or injured. It will also examine how to improve public confidence in the health and safety system.
The launch of the review coincided with the publication of the 2007 Simplification Plan by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), which points out that the HSE has reduced the number of forms by 50%.
Welcoming the announcement of the review, Better Regulation Minister Pat McFadden said, "I am fully aware of some of the considerable challenges that small firms face in protecting their workers from injuries and ill-health. Government must work smarter to make it easier for employers to follow the rules, as this will benefit everyone and contribute to making our society safer."
The closing date for responses to the review is 31 January 2008 and a series of events will be held around the country to allow people the opportunity to give their views in person.
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