The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has opened a three-month consultation on proposals to revise, consolidate or withdraw its Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs).

Following Professor Löfstedt's reports that the principles of ACOPs were supported by a range of organisations, it was felt that the ACOPs could be improved to make it easier for employers to understand and meet their legal obligations and so reduce the risks of over-compliance.

The consultation seeks views on proposals for the revision, consolidation or withdrawal of 15 ACOPs which are to be delivered by the end of 2013 and on proposals for minor revisions, or no changes, to a further 15 ACOPs which are to be delivered by 2014.

This includes a proposal to withdraw the ACOP for the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations SI 1999/3242, L21 - Management of health and safety at work, and replace it with a suite of more specific, updated guidance by 2013.

Laurence Monaghan, Consultation Manager, said, "ACOPs have been recognised as important publications for helping businesses manage the risks from their work activities. Through the review we aim to update and improve our ACOPS to make it quicker and easier for employers and other users to understand what can be done to comply with health and safety law."

The consultation will be open until 14 September 2012.

For more information, see the:

• consultation on the proposals to review HSE's Approved Codes of Practice, available at http://cedr.ec/ak.