Health and safety laws will be reviewed to stop businesses becoming overwhelmed with red tape, the prime minister has announced.
David Cameron has appointed Lord Young as his adviser on health and safety law and practice to undertake a Whitehall-wide review of health and safety legislation and the growth of the compensation culture.
Young will investigate concerns over the application and perception of health and safety legislation and is expected to report to Cameron in the summer.
Cameron said: “I’m very pleased that Lord Young has agreed to lead this important review. The rise of the compensation culture over the last 10 years is a real concern, as is the way health and safety rules are sometimes applied.
“We need a sensible new approach that makes clear these laws are intended to protect people, not overwhelm businesses with red tape. I look forward to receiving Lord Young’s recommendations on how we can best achieve that.”
Lord Young added: “Health and safety regulation is essential in many industries, but may well have been applied too generally and have become an unnecessary burden on firms, but also community organisations and public services.
“I hope my review will reintroduce an element of common sense and focus the regulation where it is most needed. We need a system that is proportionate and not bureaucratic.”
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