Young review on health and safety regulation is published

Lord Young's much anticipated review of health and safety regulation and practice has been published and all of the policies it contains have been accepted by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

The review, called 'Common Sense, Common Safety,' follows a detailed investigation into health and safety laws and the compensation culture existing in the UK today.

Amongst the key recommendations contained within the report include simplifying the risk assessment procedure for low hazard workplaces and ensuring that all health and safety consultants are accredited by a professional body. The report also calls for restrictions on advertising for 'no win, no fee' compensation claims.

David Cameron said, “Good health and safety is vitally important. But all too often good, straightforward legislation designed to protect people from major hazards has been extended inappropriately to cover every walk of life, no matter how low risk.

“A damaging compensation culture has arisen. We simply cannot go on like this. That’s why I asked Lord Young to do this review and put some common sense back into health and safety. And that’s exactly what he has done,” he added.

Lord Young will now continue his work to ensure his recommendations are acted upon.

The TUC were less than impressed with the report, calling it 'predictable but a grave disappointment all the same.'

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said, “The report contains not a single proposal that will reduce the high levels of workplace death, injuries and illness."