Health & Safety Review of Regulations and Compensation
The Department for Work and Pensions has published further details of the draft terms of reference that will govern the independent review of health and safety legislation.
Led by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt, director of the King's Centre for Risk Management at King's College, London, the review will consider the opportunities for reducing the burden of health and safety legislation on UK businesses while maintaining the progress made in improving health and safety outcomes.
The review will explore the scope for consolidating, simplifying or abolishing regulations but, at the same time, examine whether a clear link exists between regulation and positive health and safety performance.
Building on Lord Young's findings regarding the compensation culture, the Löfstedt review will scrutinise whether there is any evidence of inappropriate litigation and compensation arising from health and safety legislation. It will also look at whether changes to legislation could help clarify the legal position of employers in situations where employees act in an irresponsible manner and compromise safety.
None of the 16 Acts owned and enforced by the HSE - including the HASWA 1974 - fall under the review team's remit. Instead, the focus will be on the other statutory instruments owned and enforced by the HSE and its local-authority partners - estimated by the DWP at around 200 - and associated Approved Codes of Practice that provide advice on compliance with health and safety law.
The review is expected to report to Employment minister, Chris Grayling, in the autumn.
Source: Croner
Posted Date: 26th Apr 2011