The following details have been supplied by the TUC:
A health and safety review to be completed by the autumn will look at 'easing unnecessary burdens on business.' The terms of reference of the government commission review, to be led by industry-favourite Professor Ragnar Löfstedt of the King's Centre for Risk Management at King's College, London, were published on 20 April. The government says the initiative 'is part of package of changes to Britain's health and safety system to support the government's growth agenda and cut red tape.' These changes include slashing HSE's budget, dramatically decreasing the number of HSE inspections and exempting most businesses from any safety inspections at all. Commenting on the review, employment minister Chris Grayling said: 'By rooting out needless bureaucracy we can encourage businesses to prosper and boost our economy.' Professor Löfstedt's advisory panel includes three MPs, one from each from the main parties, two representatives of industry bodies and just one union voice, Sarah Veale from the TUC. The review will 'explore the scope for consolidating, simplifying or abolishing regulations', but will also 'examine whether a clear link exists between regulation and positive health and safety performance' and will consider if 'lessons can be learned from comparison with health and safety regimes in other countries.' However, none of the 16 Acts 'owned and enforced' by HSE fall under the review team's remit, including the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 - the big daddy of all workplace safety law - and the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008. One of the two employer reps on the panel is Dr Adam Marshall of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). BCC is an avowed opponent of health and safety regulation that has been accused of using 'rigged statistics' together with 'deadly omissions and gobsmacking lies' in its arguments against safety laws. The Löfstedt review is expected to report in the autumn.
A health and safety review to be completed by the autumn will look at 'easing unnecessary burdens on business.' The terms of reference of the government commission review, to be led by industry-favourite Professor Ragnar Löfstedt of the King's Centre for Risk Management at King's College, London, were published on 20 April. The government says the initiative 'is part of package of changes to Britain's health and safety system to support the government's growth agenda and cut red tape.' These changes include slashing HSE's budget, dramatically decreasing the number of HSE inspections and exempting most businesses from any safety inspections at all. Commenting on the review, employment minister Chris Grayling said: 'By rooting out needless bureaucracy we can encourage businesses to prosper and boost our economy.' Professor Löfstedt's advisory panel includes three MPs, one from each from the main parties, two representatives of industry bodies and just one union voice, Sarah Veale from the TUC. The review will 'explore the scope for consolidating, simplifying or abolishing regulations', but will also 'examine whether a clear link exists between regulation and positive health and safety performance' and will consider if 'lessons can be learned from comparison with health and safety regimes in other countries.' However, none of the 16 Acts 'owned and enforced' by HSE fall under the review team's remit, including the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 - the big daddy of all workplace safety law - and the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008. One of the two employer reps on the panel is Dr Adam Marshall of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). BCC is an avowed opponent of health and safety regulation that has been accused of using 'rigged statistics' together with 'deadly omissions and gobsmacking lies' in its arguments against safety laws. The Löfstedt review is expected to report in the autumn.
