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Chancellor launches health and safety review Sector: Tracker UK - The Chancellor Alistair Darling launched a major review of business health and safety laws. The review, announced in a speech at the CBI, will ask employers, workers and experts for their views on how the health and safety system can be revamped, focussing on small and low risk businesses. 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. Welcoming the announcement, 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 review by the Department for Business and Enterprise will look at how 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 Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is also publishing its 2007 simplification plan and has already reduced the number of forms by 50 per cent. |