The well publicised report “Common Sense Common Safety” by Lord Young has now been published.
The report centres on the effect easier access to compensation litigation has had in driving up over-cautious risk avoidance measures from both ill-advised companies and insurers.
There is a raft of recommendations covering: Dealing with compensation culture; helping low-hazard workplaces; raising standards of H&S consultants; reducing excessive insurance demands; putting checks on Local Authorities banning activities on spurious health & safety grounds; amending overarching H&S legislation; amending RIDDOR; combining food safety & H&S inspections; protecting the emergency services and reviewing the demands on education, particularly off-site visits.
In terms of Education he recommends:
- Simplify the process that schools undertake before taking school trips.
- Single parental consent form for all activities.
- Shift from risk assessment to a risk-benefit analysis.
- Look to separate play & leisure from workplace risk management.
- Replace AALA with a Code of Conduct.
Proposed Time Table for Education based initiatives:
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January
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Single consent form issued
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DfE
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January
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Introduce revised guidance on pupil health & safety including off-site education visits and school security
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DfE
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Spring
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Launch consultation on a draft voluntary code of practice to replace the current AALA regime
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HSE, DCMS & DfE
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April
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Review of H&S to distinguish play & leisure
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DfE, HSE
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The full report can be downloaded from this link: The Lord Young report