Health and Safety Regulations to be reformed

The BCSA attended the launch of the Government’s major reform of Health & Safety regulations on Monday 21st March 2011.

The Minister for Employment Chris Grayling, along with a number of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) board members rolled out the next phase of regulations which are aimed at reducing the burden on SMEs.

HSE Inspections will be reduced by one-third (circa 11,000), and the BCSA suggested that the good record of improvement in the constructional steelwork sector should help make such visits less likely.

A new web site, to make health & safety simpler for SMEs in low risk workplaces and explaining what they need to do to comply with regulations, was also launched. The Minister has ordered a review of all H&S legislation and he will make his proposals for simplification by autumn 2011.

The Department of Works and Pensions website has the latest news and progress on the review  http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/health-and-safety/