EEF warns against increasing burden of European legislation

The manufacturers organisation, the EEF is urging the UK government to redouble efforts to build an alliance with other EU member states to reduce the burden of health & safety legislation and remove unnecessary bureaucracy.

The call comes following the EEF's annual health & safety survey which is said to show companies' concern at proposals for more legislation. In contrast, the EEF says the survey revealed a strong appetite for case study guidance as the best means of improving control of key risks.

Commenting, EEF head of health & safety, Steve Pointer, said: “The legislative framework in the UK is mature and there is little belief amongst those managing health & safety that further legislation would raise standards. However, whilst there is pressure in the UK to reduce legislation and remove unnecessary bureaucracy, the European Commission is moving in the opposite direction, continuing to propose new legal requirements.

Two pieces of proposed EU legislation which are due to be extended were looked at. Firstly three quarters of companies disagreed with European Commission proposals to require that stress and work pressure be considered as part of risk assessments for back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders.

Secondly, the finding for proposals to change legislation on Ionising Radiations was particularly striking. Of the quarter of businesses that worked with ionising radiations, 95% believed that the current law is appropriate and should be neither tightened nor relaxed. EEF believes both of these findings suggest a strong endorsement of the current legislation as fit for purpose.

www.eef.org.uk