HSE proposes cutting red tape
August 15, 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a new consultation paper on proposals to remove several legislative form-filling requirements that apply to most businesses operating from a factory, office or shop in Great Britain.
The consultation focuses on two key areas, namely premises notification and the general register.
In terms of the current requirements for premises notification, employers are required to fill out a form to notify the HSE or their local authority of any factory, office or shop premises, and certain railway premises, where employees work.
In addition, factory employers are required to keep a set of records and forms called the general register.
The HSE is proposing to abolish the requirements because it believes the general register has become obsolete since modern legislation has overtaken the original purpose of the requirement. Similarly, the HSE says the premises notification requirement has become redundant, and points out that it obtains information on factory premises in other ways, as do many local authorities on offices and shops.
To achieve the changes would involve repealing the notification and general register requirements contained in the Factories Act 1961 and the notification requirements of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963.
However, the HSE says it is confident that the proposals would result in no loss of current health and safety protection.
The changes have been proposed by the HSE as part of its simplification plan to remove unnecessary documentation.
Print this page