Review is a ‘missed opportunity’, IOSH says

The claims were made by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Its head of policy and public affairs Richard Jones said: "We are disappointed that Professor Löfstedt has not taken this opportunity to voice strong concerns about the speed and scale of the review implementation raised by IOSH and others, and to urge a Government rethink.”

Former employment minister Chris Grayling MP commissioned the report, which examines how the Government has implemented recommendations made by both Professor Löfstedt and Lord Young of Graffham. The Government recommended a swift and wide-scale review of legislation and guidance in health and safety, including the commitment to scrap or improve 84 per cent of health and safety regulations by the end of 2014.

Jones said IOSH welcomed the author’s view that consolidation exercises should not be rushed but ‘scrutinised carefully’. But concerns raised by IOSH on the Government’s approach to reforming health and safety legislation, including proposals to revoke regulations on head protection in construction and tower cranes, were not endorsed in the report.

Jones added: "IOSH believes a number of the Löfstedt recommendations to be conceptually flawed – i.e. we believe that where there are misperceptions, it is these that need to change and not the law.We also contend that evidence for certain proposed changes is weak and supported by poor impact assessments.

Professor Löfstedt says that ‘in some cases the Government has gone further than I proposed’, but he does not go on to challenge this, only wanting to await their deliberations.”

But minster for employment Mark Hoban said: "For too long businesses have been confused by health and safety regulations which cost them money and take up time when they should be focusing on growth. Health and safety is important but its focus should be where risks are high. These reports show just how much progress we have made in restoring clarity to the system, and over the coming months I'll be making sure common sense prevails."