The Government and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are currently discussing a wider reform of health and safety compliance duties to work alongside Lord Young's proposed changes to risk assessment requirements for small businesses.
Speaking at the Health and Wellbeing at Work conference in Birmingham, Dr Bill Gunnyeon, Chief Medical Officer for the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) confirmed that Lord Young's review published last October had provided the "start point" for discussions between the HSE and the Government. Talks between the DWP and the HSE had been prompted by the funding cuts which were announced in the Government's recent Comprehensive Spending Review, which included a 35% reduction in the HSE's budget. This had led to early talks inside the HSE about cutting back on the number of proactive inspections they carry out.
Dr Gunnyeon commented, "How do we use the financial challenges and recommendations of Lord Young's review to change the way health and safety is managed? The Employment Minister is considering with the HSE on how we do that." He would not be drawn on what the potential changes may be, but said more details would be available in the coming months.
He went on to say that there had been a short hiatus after Lord Young's resignation as the Government's advisor on health and safety regulation and the compensation culture last November, but that the Prime Minister had given the Employment Minister responsibility for implementing Young's proposals contained in the report "Common Sense, Common Safety." So there are still plans to act on all the report's major recommendations, including a revised guidance for emergency services staff, an updated code of practice on adventure activities and amendments to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) SI 1995/3163.
