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News release

15 October 2010 - NR 42/10

Review “turning point” for health and safety

A Government review published today could mark a “turning point” for health and safety in the UK, the profession’s largest international body said today.

IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) said it broadly welcomed Lord Young’s recommendations, which include a clampdown on “absurd” applications of health and safety legislation and measures to make it easier for teachers to organise school trips.

IOSH Chief Executive Rob Strange said:

“We warmly welcome this review. We are sick and tired of hearing of misinterpretations of health and safety laws which end in the cancellation of perfectly safe activities.

“Lord Young is absolutely right: The standing of health and safety has been lowered by ridiculous applications of the rules. This has to end.

“We think this review could see a turning point for health and safety in the UK by turning the focus away from daft decisions about conker competitions and hanging baskets and back onto saving people’s lives in genuinely hazardous areas of work and public life.”

In a report published today, Lord Young said the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act remains an “effective framework” and had brought about the lowest number of non-fatal accidents and second lowest number of fatal accidents at work in Europe. But health and safety had been given a bad name, said the former Government minister, by misinterpretations of the rules.

Lord Young is recommending controls on no win-no fee lawyers, the simplification of risk assessments for some businesses and the accreditation of health and safety consultants.

He is also advising the Government to cut red tape for school trips, apply extra scrutiny of councils which ban events on health and safety grounds and to ensure the emergency services are not at risk of litigation for acts of heroism.

Mr Strange said:

“It’s a little early to comment on the specific recommendations made by Lord Young, which have been made public only this morning. But we do think the Government is broadly on the right track and we will support it in whatever way we can.”

Jason Anker, 42, of Farndon, in Nottinghamshire, was paralysed in 1992 when the ladder he was on slipped and fell between two buildings. He has had an 18-year-struggle to get his life back on track, including lengthy spells in hospital, the collapse of his marriage, drink and drug problems, and compensation issues which were only resolved in 2007.

Jason is backing IOSH in raising awareness about the dangers of poor health and safety.

He said:

“Health and safety does have a bad image because people presume it’s about rules and restrictions. At the end of the day, it’s about saving lives and preventing accidents at work.

“If the laws in 1992 were as tight as they are now I would be standing, not sitting in a wheelchair, saying this today.”

Media call

Media interested in interviewing IOSH Chief Executive Rob Strange OBE, IOSH Policy and Technical Director Richard Jones or Jason Anker, please contact media manager Tim Walsh on 0772 711 9911 or email tim.walsh@iosh.co.uk, Ruth Davies on 0798 000 4474, or Amy Chappell on 0798 000 4494.

- Ends -

Notes for editors:

IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 40,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.