The Government have published the Lofstedt Review and a detailed response to the recommendations contained in the report including setting a date for the abolition of AALA.
Professor Ragnar Lofstedt of King's College London, was asked by the Government earlier this year to review the health and safety system to support the growth agenda and cut red tape. The School Travel Forum responded to the review and his final report calls for health and safety to be made much simpler for businesses. Much of the report is focused on businesses but there is a small section on schools.
The Lofstedt Review had previously asked the Government to simplify processes for taking schoolchildren on trips and also for the introduction of a single consent form for every pupil. In response the Government has revised health and safety guidance for schools and launched the generic consent form, along with the HSE High Level Statement on the application of health and safety law to school trips.
Points of interest in the review include:
· The review calls on local authorities to take a more consistent and proportionate approach to enforcement of health and safety. The Government announced that they will work with local government to improve the quality of training and dispel myths and the fear of litigation
· It is confirmed that by Summer 2012 legislation will be brought forward to abolish the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority.
Next Steps
The Government stated they are committed to delivering the recommendations to the timetable suggested in the report, or earlier where possible. DWP will develop an implementation plan with HSE and other Government departments and agree milestones for action. They intend to publish regular progress updates on the DWP website, as they already do for the programme of work to deliver the Common Sense, Common Safety (Lord Young's) recommendations.
As a result of the implementation of the recommendations and other Government action already under way, they expect the experience of businesses to change significantly over the coming months and years:
By the summer of 2012
- Health and safety guidance for small businesses will be much simpler.
- Businesses will get simple and consistent guidance from HSE, professional bodies and insurers on whether and when they need to bring in expert health and safety advice.
- Low risk businesses that manage their responsibilities properly will no longer be visited by inspectors.
- Legislation will be brought forward to abolish the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority AALA).
By 2013
- Self-employed people whose work poses no threat to others will be exempt from health and safety law.
- Approved Codes of Practice will give businesses clear practical examples of how to comply with the law.
- Unnecessary regulations will be revoked.
By 2014
- A simpler accident reporting regime will be in place.
- If we are successful in influencing the planned review, EU health and safety legislation will in future be risk- and evidence based.
- The nuclear industry will have its own dedicated independent regulator.
- HSE’s enhanced powers will help drive consistent enforcement for all businesses.
- Regulations will be consolidated by industry sector, making it clear which provisions businesses need to comply with.
- The total number of regulations businesses have to comply with will be reduced by 50 per cent.
They also state that through the Red Tape Challenge and other mechanisms, to look for opportunities to further simplify the health and safety system and improve the experience of employers and employees across the UK.
Click here to access the full response
Click here to access comments on review by ROSPA