‘More sensible’ approach to health and safety called for

A government minister has called for a more sensible approach to health and safety at work.

Speaking at Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH’s) annual conference, health and safety minister Lord McKenzie stated that risk management should be about practical steps to protect people, as opposed to "bureaucratic back covering".

He added that everyone needs to do more to ensure that health and safety is not overcomplicated and that advice is "clear and proportionate".

Also speaking at the event, Paul Rowen, Liberal Democrat shadow work and pensions minister, said: "The fact is, 241 people in Britain were killed last year in work-related accidents and over a quarter of a million people were seriously injured.

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"This costs business millions of pounds, quite apart from the human suffering."

Earlier this month, the IOSH renewed calls for the regulation of the health and safety profession.