Health and safety regulations 'to be cut by a third'

The UK government has pledged to make substantial cuts to health and safety red tape, which could benefit up to one million Britons.

According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), radical changes to current legislation will be made so that self-employed people whose jobs do not pose a direct risk to the public can be exempt from the laws.

It confirmed health and safety rules will be reduced by between one-third and a half over the next three years.

This follows a report by Ragnar Lofstedt, which called for a more risk-based approach, rather than a one size fits all system.

"Our reforms will root out needless bureaucracy and be a significant boost to the million self employed people who will be moved out of health and safety regulation altogether," commented employment minister Chris Grayling.

The report has also been welcomed by chair of the Health and Safety Executive Judith Hackitt, who labelled the study as "insightful".

Posted by Claire Manning