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In a speech at the CBI, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, said that the Government would seek the opinion of employers, their workers and industry experts as to how the health and safety system could be reformed.
Mr Darling said that the Government needed to do more to help smaller firms follow the rules. The review, to be undertaken by the Better Regulation Executive – now part of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) – aims ensure that ‘sensible' health and safety requirements are placed on businesses.
"This is a welcome step, but only a first step," said the FPB's Director of Finance and Administration, Nick Palin. "If legislation is introduced, not to address a specific concern, but in blanket fashion, then smaller businesses will continue to be compromised. Any review must focus on preventing this."
He added: "Of course firms need to ensure the health and safety of their employees, but the Government should avoid placing unnecessary burdens on their ability to do business, rather than just helping them wade through the raft of legislation."
The burden of health and safety legislation was the most pressing concern for business owners who attended the FPB's Small Firms Summit in Westminster in October; in particular the onerous task of filling in the many different risk assessment forms. In an FPB survey carried out in March 2007, it was found that smaller firms devote an average of 14 hours each month to dealing with health and safety red tape.
Suggested measures to redress the balance have included improved guidance from the Government. Help is also on hand in the form of the FPB's new Health and Safety Guide, which helps smaller businesses to understand their responsibilities and introduce systems to help them cope with the legislation.
"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 Chancellor's 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."
The FPB welcomes the Government's recognition of the difficulties faced by smaller firms in trying to follow the letter of the law. However, it must go further and be prepared to remove unworkable regulations, for example by introducing ‘sunset clauses' to new laws. They would see a piece of legislation repealed if it proved unworkable.
Following the proposal to merge the Health and Safety Executive – which is also publishing a simplification plan – 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 January 2008. A series of events, to be held around the UK, will follow.
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