Moves to cut health & safety red tape

London - The UK government is to review the curent health and safety system with a view to reducing the red tape burden on smaller companies and making it easier for them to follow the rules. The review is to be undertaken by the Better Regulation Executive – now part of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR).

While welcoming the move, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) insisted that the time and money spent on red tape by smaller firms must be addressed by a review of health and safety laws. This, said the group includes repealing any regulations that prove unworkable.

The review "is a welcome step, but only a first step," said the FPB’s director of finance and administration, Nick Palin. "The Government should avoid placing unnecessary burdens on their ability to do business, rather than just helping them wade through the raft of legislation."

Business owners currently complain about the resources required to fill in the many different risk assessment forms required under current legislation. An FPB survey carried out in March 2007 found that smaller firms devote an average of 14 hours each month to dealing with health and safety red tape.

"I am fully aware of some of the considerable challenges that small firms face in protecting their workers from injuries and ill-health," said Better Regulation Minister, Pat McFadden, following the review announcement. "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."

Following the proposal to merge the Health and Safety Executive with the Health and Safety Commission, the FPB is calling for strict scrutiny of the actions of any new body, and for firms to be encouraged to comply with regulations rather than forced to do so by the threat of fines.
Business owners who wish to make their views heard can send a response to the DBERR by 31 Jan 2008.