BERR review plans for better H+S advice
February 13, 2009
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) recently released the results of an independent review recommending plans for better health and safety and other advice for small businesses.
Under the new recommendations, small businesses would get a "one-stop-shop" for guidance on health and safety and employment legislation, which would help make sure they comply with the law and save them time and money.
The plans are designed to increase compliance with the law, boost business confidence in government advice and cut costs for small businesses.
Proposals include:
- a telephone advice service, free to small and medium-sized enterprises for the first year, providing tailored and "insured advice" to make sure they comply with employment and health and safety law
- government taking responsibility for its guidance, removing disclaimers and encouraging discretion over prosecution of "reasonable" businesses
- creating a single access point for all government guidance
The review was undertaken by Sarah Anderson CBE, who ran her own specialist employment business - Mayday Group - for 19 years. She commented, "Many small businesses do not use, and have little confidence in, guidance from government … Improving the quality of, and access to, government advice is vital if we want to see better understanding of, and compliance with, the law."
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