June 16, 2014
The Deregulation Bill has caused a lot of controversy since it was announced last July, with the plan to exempt certain self-employed people from health and safety law being a particular bone of contention.
the government has made it quite clear that it sees health and safety regulation as a barrier to economic growth. David Cameron has described health and safety as “a monster” and has vowed to “kill off the health and safety culture for good“. The fact that our story on that statement is still one of our most commented articles shows how much this rankled those in the health and safety profession.
But the IOSH Conference is looking at deregulation at a different angle: the Big Debate this year is titled Deregulation: evading responsibility or doing the ‘right’ thing? A panel of experts including Judith Hackitt from the HSE, Dominic Cooper, chief executive of B-Safe Management Solutions, Gerard Forlin QC of Cornerstone Barrister and Hugh Robertson of the TUC, will explore the deregulation debate from both sides of the coin, to try to determine if there’s any benefit to deregulation.
We’d like to know what you think: take part in our poll on the subject, or post a comment below.
The Big Debate Panel:
Moderator: Andrew Sharman, Andrew Sharman Safety and Risk Consulting
Shaun Lundy, Academic Portfolio Leader, University of Greenwich
Hugh Robertson, Senior Policy Officer, Health and Safety, Trade Union Congress
Gerard Forlin QC, Cornerstone Barrister, London, Maxwell Chambers, Singapore, Denman Chambers, Sydney
Dr Janet Asherson, Adviser Environment, Health and Safety, International Organisation of Employers
Neal Stone, Policy and Communications Director, British Safety Council
Kevin Furniss, Vice President HSSE, AP Moller Maersk Terminals
Dominic Cooper, Chief Executive, B-Safe Management Solutions
Judith Hackitt CBE, Chair, Health and Safety Executive
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In my opinion deregulation is a good thing, but only if controlled by correctly informed persons, such as those at the HSE, people appointed on the merit of their competence over years of practicing as health and safety professionals.
It is basically the pure ignorance of politicians such as David Cameron, who like many uninformed people believe health and safety is to blame for everything.
It is as a result of regulation that accident/incident statistics have fallen year on year, proving that if applied correctly health and safety not only works but is a major benefit to companies aiding not only in the reduction of accidents and incidents, but also in reducing sick days saving not only the company money in relation to time resources etc. but also the individual and indeed the state.
We are seen by other countries as global leaders in health and safety, something that we should be extremely proud of, I’m sure if it was an international competition through which countries and therefore their governments received awards and recognition individuals like Mr Cameron would have an entirely different view on the subject claiming it works due to the government’s commitment.
In this day and age we should still be striving for an accident free workplace, which I believe can be achieved by working to the approved codes of practice developed by professionals across the board, not sinking back to where we were at pre the Health and Safety at Work Act and all subsequent legislation that evolved to deal with the misfortunes that were occurring.
No one can deny that people’s lives have been saved over the course of time as a result of the health and safety culture that has evolved. In fact if we look at the majority of cases that are highlighted in the feeds from the HSE, people die or are seriously injured daily for not applying the correct procedures laid out in the ACoP, surely this in its self is argument enough to progress with health and safety and not allowing the decline the government seek
I’m sure if over the coming years when accident and incident rates begin to increase people like Mr Cameron won’t hold their hands up and say “ Yes it is all our fault” instead they will blame companies and state “We need to consider improvements in health and safety”.
In my opinion David Cameron’s ideas need not produce changes in legislation, they deserve nothing more than putting down in something like Judith Hackitt’s challenge forum.