Government to slacken health & safety inspections for some businesses

Health and safety checks will be reduced dramatically as the government reviews red tape procedures...

More than 3,000 regulations are to be ruled out of health and safety inspections on small businesses, as ministers will review the case on Monday in a bid which will also save companies money.

The announcement will lead to thousands of safe businesses, such as retail, offices, public houses, being exempt from inspections as ministers recognise the process can add unnecessary pressure to businesses.

The changes are expected to take effect as of April 2013, and it is also expected that legislation will be introduced to protect companies from compensation claims.

The overhaul will mean that only companies who are at higher risk, such as construction firms, will face the inspections.

Business Secretary, Vince Cable, thinks businesses should be concentrating on their success rather than being occupied by red tape issues.

He said, as quoted by the BBC: "I've listened to those concerns and we're determined to put common sense back into areas like health and safety, which will reduce costs and fear of burdensome inspections."

The news comes as Mr Cable will reveal the industrial strategy this week, which is thought will benefit car manufacturers and aerospace companies, among others, in a bid to impact future economic growth.

Although some trade unions oppose the move, wanting safety to remain paramount in the operating of businesses, the British Chambers of Commerce agrees with the health and safety inspection changes.

Director of policy and external affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce, Adam Marshall, told the Telegraph: “Ensuring that low-risk workplaces are exempted from inspections is a sensible change that will save employers time and money without reducing the safety of workers... The overall number of regulations on the books remains far too high.”

For some people the action against the red tape allegedly comes too late, as Sainsbury’s Chief Executive, Justin King, who endorses Mr. Cables plans, expressed to Sky News. But the aim of setting the UK back on track looks to growth through skills and technology according to Mr Cable.