The results are back from our Deregulation Bill poll with very clear results.
With well in excess of 300 responses and over 100 comments from polling respondents, 80% said self-employed workers should not be exempt from health and safety regulations.
A further 77% foresee problems with contractors as a result of the Bill, should it be introduced as proposed.
83% believed it would be harder to manage the health and safety regulations of self-employed workers under this Bill.
As to comments made on the Bill, nearly all held negative views of the proposals. Whilst one agreed with the changes "for home workers etc." the majority called into question the scope and purpose of exemptions.
"As soon as you create an exception, you create a loophole that could be exploited by unscrupulous employers. The law should apply to everyone."
"This paves the way for many breaches of other legislation."
"Lack of clarity regarding 'low risk' and 'relevant'."
An overwhelming amount of comments were that the Bill represents a "backward step" in Health and Safety law, which corresponds neatly with the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) verdict that the Bill will cause confusion and a "licence for cowboys".
Cedrec's take
As expected, the Deregulation Bill is not only seeing criticism from Lord McKenzie.
The Bill needs several changes, not only to clarify terms such as "low-risk" and "relevant", but also to clarify what regulations under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 will be affected.
Several comments we received asked if the Government feel that the Bill insinuates that the Government are not concerned with the welfare of self-employed workers, with one asking "so their life means nothing?"
Of course this perception is not the intention of the proposals, regardless of how poorly the Bill has been made thus far. However, so many responses asked a similar question that the Government must address it. The idea that one worker should be subject to different rules to another, yet both with the intention of protecting each worker, is ludicrous. As the saying goes, the law is the law, and that goes for everyone.
