Category: Health and Safety for Contractors

Concerns regarding the application and perception of health and safety legislation are to be addressed by Lord Young, the newly-appointed adviser to the prime minister for the sector.

He is set to undertake a Whitehall-wide review of the operation of laws and the growth of the compensation culture and report back to David Cameron in the summer.

The "important" assessment will consider the way health and safety regulations are sometimes applied, Mr Cameron explained.

"We need a sensible new approach that makes clear these laws are intended to protect people, not overwhelm businesses with red tape," he commented.

Lord Young suggested some regulations may have been applied too generally and become an "unnecessary burden" on firms, organisations and public services.

"I hope my review will reintroduce an element of common sense and focus the regulation where it is most needed," he said, adding that the system needs to be proportionate and not bureaucratic.

Posted by Sarah Putt