Experts warn Prime Minister not to exempt self-employed from health safety law

RA Now

The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has advised of the potential risk of exempting the self-employed from health and safety law.

This follows the Prime Minister’s address to the Federation of Small Businesses in which he said he would continue to champion deregulation as a “public service” to small businesses.

In a press statement before his address, David Cameron said: “This government has already stopped needless health and safety inspections. And the new Deregulation Bill will exempt one million self-employed people from health and safety law altogether.”

In response IOSH said it supports the simplification of legislation and guidance, but is against lowering of standards that could lead to more accidents and deaths.

“As we have made clear to government, we think it would be unhelpful, unnecessary and unwise to exempt certain self-employed from health and safety law, as the government is proposing – causing more of a hindrance than a help,” said IOSH’s head of policy and public affairs Richard Jones.

Jones pointed to the incorrect label health and safety is given – as a barrier to business – saying that it sustains business growth and success. “It’s important to remember that health and safety failures in the UK cost a staggering £13.4bn per year, double this once you take into account the cost of occupational cancers and property damage. Good health and safety saves lives, supports business and sustains the economy.”

Since the Coalition Government announced it would be deregulating certain areas to help SMEs, IOSH has campaigned to ensure the excellent health and safety standards in the UK are not lowered as a result of change.

Jones added: “We have one of the best health and safety records in the world. It would be a shame for legislation to be scrapped that could set us back as a society.”