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News Release from: HSE Health and Safety Executive | Subject: Initial draft simplification plan
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 30 November 2005
Tell the HSE how to simplify regulations
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its initial draft simplification plan as part of its commitment to deliver the wider better regulation agenda.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its initial draft simplification plan as part of its commitment to deliver the wider better regulation agenda The HSE wants to know what you think
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 1 Jul 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The plan can be viewed at the HSE's website via the 'Your views' section.
The HSE intends to meet the better regulation challenge set by government while improving health and safety outcomes and not reducing the levels of protection for workers or the public.
The plan sets out the HSC/E's determination to develop legislation that is easy to understand and comply with to help secure stronger commitment from business.
It also supports a risk based, targeted approach to enforcement.
Key themes include: simplification for business to help them concentrate on improving outcomes rather than bureaucratic processes; changing the culture, for example, through a campaign to tackle risk aversion; challenging policy makers' case for taking a regulatory approach and ensuring they address the impact of proposals on small businesses; simplifying existing legislation; 'joined-up' enforcement, including more effective partnership with local authorities to secure a consistent, targeted approach.
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The chair of the Small Business Council, Julie Kenny, welcomed the draft plan, saying: "HSE's draft simplification plan includes measures to achieve credible reductions in the regulatory burden to business.
"I congratulate the HSE for sharing its early thinking in a clear and concise way and for asking small businesses, what more can be done".
David Arculus, chair of the Better Regulation Task Force, says: "HSE's initial simplification plan contains a number of valuable initiatives to reduce the burden of regulation.
"The initial plan shows that independent regulators have an important role in delivering better regulation.
"I welcome HSE's commitment to listen to stakeholders and develop meaningful simplification measures".
Executive chair of the Better Regulation Executive, William Sargent, adds: "I congratulate HSE for identifying these early suggestions for simplifying their regulations affecting business.
"They will make a real difference.
"Early publication of this plan allows all businesses and organisations to comment and add new ideas for consideration".
If you want to find out more about the Government's better regulation agenda, please visit ww.betterregulation.gov.uk .
If you want to send comments on the draft simplification plan, please email simplification@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
Better regulation across public and private sectors is a priority for the Government, and has the personal commitment of both the Prime Minister and Chancellor.
In the 2005 Budget the Government announced the publication of the Hampton and Better Regulation Task Force (BRTF) reports.
These two key reports have set all Departments and regulators big challenges to reduce administrative burdens while improving effectiveness and outcomes.
As a key regulator, the HSE has given a firm commitment to deliver the better regulation agenda and it has moved quickly to establish a robust programme in response to the challenge.
The key task in delivering the BRTF recommendations is for all Departments, including the HSC/E, to prepare a rolling programme of simplification measures contained in a draft plan.
The HSC/E's plan will incorporate the recommendations made by the BRTF but also the wider better regulation agenda and the recommendations in the Hampton report (eg inspections and mergers).
In developing the plan, the HSC/E will take into account comments from stakeholders and, along with all Government Departments, the HSC/E will submit the draft to the Cabinet Office in January 2006.
Other better regulation agenda initiatives are as follows.
On 15 September 2005, The Cabinet Office launched a new way for businesses to challenge Government to simplify or scrap particular regulations they think are too burdensome.
They have set up a new one-stop portal online at www.betterregulation.gov.uk where businesses can submit proposals for simplifying legislation.
The Cabinet Office is leading an exercise to measure the administrative burden UK regulation puts on businesses.
Using a UK Standard Cost Model it will measure across Government Departments the sum of the administrative burden.
In March 2006 targets for reduction of admin burdens/costs across Government will be set.
The results of this work will also feed into the HSC/E's simplification plan.
See the Cabinet Office's website for further information.
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