EHS Projects help businesses embrace the benefits good health and safety management by partnering clients in managing workplace risk and complying with Health and Safety at Work regulations. 

The tangible benefits go beyond a company’s enhanced professional image and compliance with workplace law. There are real practical benefits which improve the efficiency and productivity of the workforce in addition to insurance premiums and reduced risk of expensive legal claims.

Key changes to H&S regulations in 2011 - What may this mean for you and your organisation?

There have been some interesting clues to possible revisions to UK health and safety legislation as outlined in Lord Young's report issued in October 2010. If the recommendations set out in the report are approved it will be one of the most significant revisions to health and safety law since the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 was introduced.

Some of the changes proposed by Lord Young include:Clarification that individuals will not be held liable for any consequences due to well-intentioned voluntary acts on their part.Reduced risk assessment procedure for low hazard workplaces such as offices, classrooms and shops. Simpler interactive risk assessments will be required and made available on the HSE website.Creation of periodic checklists enabling businesses operating in low a hazard environment to be exempt from risk assessments.Health and safety consultants to be professionalised with a qualification requirement that all consultants should be accredited to professional bodies. All REC-Noble consultants are fully chartered practitioners, further emphasising our position as a leading health and safety consultancy.Where health and safety consultants are employed to carry out full health and safety risk assessments, only qualified consultants who are included on the web based directory should be used.The HSE should produce clear separate guidance under the Code of Practice focused on small and medium businesses engaged in lower risk activities.The reporting of injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, to be amended by extending to seven days the period before an injury or accident needs to be reported.Removal of 'Compensation Culture' allowing organisations to return to dealing with everyday decisions without the burden of damages claims and legal disputes.

A detailed timetable of all the actions including revision to both RIDDOR and the Health and Safety at Work Act is available here.

If you would like any further information or pragmatic health and safety advice then please call Rob Habgood on 0114 2935046 (rob@ehsprojects.co.uk)