Expert Calls For Health And Safety Review Caution

Leading national law firm Irwin Mitchell is calling for the government to take care with any changes it makes to health and safety legislation, following announcements made in the Budget yesterday (March 23rd).

Chancellor George Osborne has confirmed in the House of Commons that recommendations put forward by Lord Young in his review of health and safety, originally published last October, will be implemented in full.

Among the measures set to be implemented include a registration process for health and safety consultants, as well as a review of all regulations with a view to removing any that are ruled to be unnecessary.

Discussing the plans, David Urpeth, national head of workplace injuries at Irwin Mitchell, has called for a careful approach to the issue of reassessing safety legislation to be taken.

He explained: “Legislation undoubtedly needs to be fair and proportionate. However, it is vital that ministers show caution when deciding to change existing health and safety procedures.

"We have seen an improvement in the numbers killed and seriously injured in the workplace, with the UK having the lowest number of non-fatal accidents and the second lowest-level of fatal accidents in Europe.

“However, we must be wary of undermining the advances in health and safety law which have helped to achieve that.

“Health and safety legislation plays a vital role in keeping many workers across the UK safe from harm and it is vital that its importance remains acknowledged throughout the process.”