Health and safety reforms set to save small business £300 million
September 5th 2008

Better advice and support on health and safety could save small businesses up to £300 million a year, according to, Improving outcomes from health and safety, a new report from the Better Regulation Executive (BRE).

The report examines how health and safety regulation affects low-risk and small businesses and sets out recommendations to save them time and money, while improving working environments and general understanding of health and safety.

Recommendations include:

• Improved web-based and telephone support, offering advice as well as information, for low-risk businesses

• Better advice to help small businesses know when to buy-in the help of consultants

• Maximising the limited resources of Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and local authority inspectors, making inspection and enforcement more efficient, focusing on higher-risk workplaces

• Developing a new, single assurance scheme so small businesses can have just one inspection to deal with a range of requirements, including health and safety, fire, food safety regulations

• Improving the perception and understanding of health and safety issues.

The average company spends around 20 hours a year, or more than £350, on administration meeting health and safety requirements, but it is estimated cutting the time spent by just five hours per company would save businesses £150 million a year.

The full report can be found at: www.berr.gov.uk

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