Employment minister Chris Grayling has issued an open call for submissions from anyone with an opinion on the matter. The initiative is part of the government’s so-called ‘red tape challenge’ to cut bureaucracy.
A three-week focus on health and safety starts this Thursday (30 June) with the future of some 200 regulations under debate. Ministers says that they will use the views generated to remove ‘unnecessary’ rules from the statute book. Suggestions will also be considered by the Lofstedt review of health and safety regulations.
Risk management specialist Professor Ragnar Löfstedt is leading an independent review of health and safety legislation for the government to make proposals for simplifying the existing legislation. This review is scheduled to make recommendations to ministers by autumn 2011.
Mr Grayling said: "This is the opportunity that every beleaguered business leader, incredulous community group or outraged newspaper reader has been waiting for - a chance to directly change the laws underpinning Britain's health and safety culture.
"We have already started sweeping reforms to health and safety, but need the experience and insight of those most affected by red tape to help us root out needless bureaucracy and restore common sense to the heart of the system.
"The purpose of health and safety regulation must be to protect people at work, not interfere unnecessarily. We will listen and we will act on what people have got to say, so it's never been more important for people to make their voice heard."
To contribute your opinion, visit http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/health-and-safety/
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