Health and safety regulation cull as part of red tape ‘fire’
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At least 3,000 regulations will be scrapped or overhauled by the end of next year, as a follow up to the Red Tape Challenge, the government has announced. And, from April 2013, only businesses in high-risk sectors will be inspected by the HSE or local authorities.
The government will also change the law next month so companies will only be liable for civil damages in health and safety cases if they can be shown to have acted negligently – currently, companies can automatically be liable even if they weren't negligent.
Business secretary Vince Cable said: "Removing unnecessary red tape and putting common sense back into areas like health and safety will reduce fears and costs for businesses."
Newly appointed business minister Michael Fallon added: "Cutting red tape shows the government is serious about helping businesses to flourish. We're getting out of the way by bringing common sense back to health and safety. And we will be holding departments' feet to the fire to ensure all unnecessary red tape is cut, and we can boost the jobs and growth that our economy needs."
Responding to the announcement, the British Safety Council cautioned against characterising health and safety as a burden on business. Alex Botha, chief exec, said: "The myth that there is an army of health and safety inspectors disrupting and stifling UK business day in day out is just that – a myth. It is estimated that every workplace in Great Britain can, presently, expect a visit from an inspector on average once every 38 years."