A pair of reports published recently reveal the British Government is making major inroads in restoring common sense to health and safety and saving businesses millions of pounds and considerable time every year.
The first, authored by Professor Ragnar Lofstedt, reviews the progress to date in implementing the recommendations contained in his 2011 report ‘Reclaiming Health and Safety for all’. Lofstedt welcomes the idea that a significant number of his proposals to tackle the over-zealous application of health and safety in Britain are in place. The report notes that these changes will assist companies in focusing on growth rather as opposed to unnecessary red tape.
Meantime, the other report finds the Government has already implemented 23 of the 35 recommendations in Lord Young's 2010 report "Commons Sense, Common Safety". Lord Young was seeking changes to the regulatory system in order to deal with the rise of a compensation culture, and address the often seen negative perceptions of health and safety legislation.
Health & Safety Regulations Have History of Confusion
According to Minister for Employment Mark Hoban, "For too long businesses have been confused by health and safety regulations which cost them money and take up time when they should be focusing on growth.
"Health and safety is important, but its focus should be where risks are high. These reports show just how much progress we have made in restoring clarity to the system, and over the coming months I'll be making sure common sense prevails."
As Hoban notes, progress made so far in simplifying health and safety requirements and trimming red tape includes:
● Half of all health and safety legislation will have been reviewed, scrapped or simplified by next year.
● One change – to the regulations on reporting accidents at work – will save businesses nearly $10 million over 10 years.
● Another – simplifying the guidelines around how often businesses need to get electrical safety such as kettles and computers tested – is estimated to save businesses some $47 million.
● By April 2013, one in 10 sets of health and safety regulations will have been scrapped.
● 200 sets of outdated guidelines have been scrapped – one fifth of all health and safety publications.
● Proactive health and safety inspections by HSE have been cut from 33,000 in 2010/11 to less than 22,000 to 2011/12, with inspections focused on where risks are high.
● In its first four months, over 75,000 users have accessed a new Health and Safety "Toolbox". The toolbox makes it easier for businesses to understand their health and safety responsibilities, saving them considerable time every year that might otherwise be wasted on pointless paperwork. 1.2 million business are using HSE website every month to access clear advice about health and safety.
● The public can now challenge official decisions which are taken on the grounds of "health and safety" through the HSE's Myth Busters Challenge Panel. These include Cafes and Restaurants refusing to heat up baby food, and Golf Buggies being banned on a Golf Course!
● Streamlining risk assessment procedures
● Tackling the myths about red tape and other barriers to schools taking pupils on valuable visits and trips by publishing clear new guidelines encouraging schools and local authorities to remove wasteful bureaucracy.
Author Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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