A final progress report from the Department for Works and Pensions has highlighted the major milestones the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has made in delivering reforms to legislation and guidance.
Professor Ragnar Löfstedt, Director of the King's Centre Risk Management, Kings College, London, carried out an independent review of health and safety to look at the scope for reducing the burden of health and safety regulation on business. The Professor's report "Reclaiming health and safety for all: An independent Review of health and safety legislation", was published on the 28 November 2011.
This new report is the final update on the work done on implementing Professor Löfstedt's recommendations, as well as the recommendations in Lord Young of Graffham's earlier report "Common Sense, Common Safety". It provides a comprehensive overview of the Government's progress with health and safety reform.
Commenting on the report, the HSE have issued the following statement:
"Through both the dedication of our staff and close engagement with business and other stakeholders, we have simplified and modernised a large amount of regulation without compromising standards of protection for workers.
There have been a number of reviews of health and safety in recent years and they have all shown that the system we have remains fit for purpose.
We have made significant progress in reducing regulatory burdens for business by further helping them understand what they need to do to keep their workers safe.
We have tackled over interpretation of legal requirements and reduced the overall stock of legislation by 50%. We have also undertaken an extensive guidance review.
The HSE is 40 years old this year. Having demonstrated our ability to evolve, we will continue to adapt and embrace new ways of working, and through close engagement with business and other stakeholders, ensure regulations remain effective and fit for purpose.
We are proud of our regulatory system and what it has achieved in protecting the lives of our workers."
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