The Government have recently advised that in April 2013 routine health and safety inspections are no longer to continue on business premises that are considered to be of low risks. This new suggestion is part of the Government’s plans to remove or change more than 3,000 of the current health and safety regulations.
In the reformed plans, businesses that are deemed as high risk such as construction sites and food productions, or businesses that have a poor track record, will still be inspected for the purposes of health and safety. It has been said that establishments such as pubs, clubs, shops and offices are no longer to be subject to the inspections.
The new plans have been backed by the business minister Vince Cable stating that the reforms to health and safety will allow businesses to focus on creating jobs and wealth rather than “being tied up in necessary red tap”.
It seems that when proposing these new plans the Government has had no regard for employees and customer’s health, safety and welfare, but have only considered the financial affects of health and safety regulation.
Currently, as an employer, a duty is now only owed to comply with Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, but owe a duty to their employee under several pieces of legislation. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 is just one of many and imposes several mandatory duties on the employer know as strict liability which has no consideration of whether the employer acted reasonably but considers only if they have complied with the regulations.
Fears have been raised by trade unions that with the lack of regulation, employers will have a disregard for employees and customers safety, resulting in a rise of accidents which subsequently could increase the amount of work accident and work accident compensation claims. This will obviously depend on how the Government decides to amend the regulations, but the reduction in inspections is a step backwards in protecting employees.
If you have been involved in an accident work if may be entitled to make a claim. Remember that there is no need to find an employer guilty of a breach of health and safety regulations in order to succeed with a claim, but the demise in importance in health and safety by the Government may mean that more employers are negligent.
Call our free claims helpline on 0800 634 75 75 for specialist advice.
