Forum welcomes report recognising health and safety worries for small firms
  24 July 2009    
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The Forum of Private Business have welcomed a report which acknowledges the confusion felt by many small businesses over health and safety law.
 

The report, from government agency the Risk and Regulatory Advisory Council (RRAC), says that millions of pounds are wasted each year due to small organisations' uncertainty on health and safety-related issues.

The document, which was released yesterday (Thursday, July 23), says that many small organisations, including small businesses, are "uncertain and confused" about their health and safety responsibilities under the law.

It blames the situation on three key factors, including the often contradictory messages that small organisations receive on the subject from the Government, insurers and the media. It also criticises "risk-mongers", such as unscrupulous health and safety consultants, who the RRAC says play on small businesses' fears in order to make money.

Ahead of the publication of the report, FPB Chief Executive Phil Orford worked closely with Sarah Veale and Lord Jamie Lindsay from the RRAC to get across the problems faced by small businesses.

Mr Orford welcomed the RRAC's comments and said many of its findings were in line with the results of the FPB's Referendum research in June.

He said: "While we would argue that much of the confusion felt by smaller businesses in connection with health and safety law is brought about by the legislation itself, we do accept that a certain amount of scaremongering and exaggeration goes on.

"Inevitably the ambulance-chasing law firms have added a considerable burden to the health and safety worries faced by small firms and perhaps some unscrupulous consultants have played on those worries in order to create work for themselves.

"However, they shouldn't be confused with business support organisations like the FPB which are trying to provide valuable advice and clarity on the issue."

As well as offering advice over the telephone to its members, the not-for-profit FPB also produces an annual health and safety guide which is designed to be as easy to understand as possible. The guide contains simple ‘comply as you complete' sections which are intended to help busy company owners comply with health and safety regulations quickly and efficiently. 

In June, research carried out by the FPB as part of its quarterly Referendum survey of members calculated that small and medium-sized companies face an annual overall bill of £2.072 billion in time and money spent on health and safety guidelines.

The RRAC's report can be viewed at www.berr.gov.uk/files/file52348.pdf


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