Future Of Health And Safety Law Seminar Announced
As if to continue the theme of support for the Government’s stance on health & safety legislation, ahead of the publication of the Löfstedt Health And Safety Review Report, yet another conference aimed at discussing and promoting the way forward in implementing the Government’s strategy has been organised.
Organised by the Westminster Legal Policy Forum, the event is entitled, The future of health and safety law - in search of a 'common sense' approach. However at this stage both the agenda and list of guest speakers are subject to change.
The one day seminar is due to take place on Tuesday 17th January 2012 in central London, although the exact venue has not yet been published on the website.
Sounding remarkably similar to a linked event which took place in London yesterday 17th November, the website introduces the one day seminar:
‘This seminar will provide a timely opportunity to examine the changing nature of health and safety regulation, as Government takes forward the wide-ranging proposals set out in Lord Young's review Common Sense, Common Safety. The seminar will examine how reforms are being taken forward as Government intends to simplify and reduce regulatory burdens on low-hazard working environments, and attempts to tackle the perceived "compensation culture" of health and safety litigation.’
It goes on to say:
‘Taking stock of current progress in implementing proposals, as well as looking ahead in anticipation of Government plans to further reform the legislative framework, discussion will focus on how regulation can be effectively simplified and made more accessible for those working in low-hazard working environments within business, schools and charities; how the role of health and safety consultants and insurers may evolve as the sector undergoes regulative reform; and how reforms can effectively reduce costs and curb a climate of fear across litigation as envisaged by Government.’
The website gives the following details of guests and speakers, which in itself tells its own story:
'We are delighted that Bill Gunnyeon, Director for Health Work and Wellbeing and Chief Medical Adviser, Department for Work and Pensions; Judith Hackitt, Chair, Health and Safety Executive and Professor Ragnar Löfstedt, Chair, The Löfstedt review: An independent review of health and safety legislation and Director, King's Centre for Risk Management, King's College London have agreed to deliver a keynote address at this seminar.
At this early stage Mary Boughton, Federation of Small Businesses; Kevin Bridges, Partner, Pinsent Masons and Member of Council, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH); Andrew Dismore, Campaign Co-ordinator, Access to Justice Action Group; Paul Hopkin, Technical Director, Airmic; Andy Lucas, Operations Manager (Health and Safety), Birmingham City Council; Susan Murray, Unite the Union; Paul Reeve, Head of Health, Safety and Environment, Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA); Nick Starling, Director of General Insurance and Health, Association of British Insurers and Karl Tonks, Vice-President, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers have also kindly agreed to speak.
Katy Clark MP, Member, All-Party Parliamentary Health and Safety Group and Rt Hon The Lord Hunt of Wirral, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Legal and Constitutional Affairs and Chair, Financial Services Division, Beachcroft have kindly agreed to chair this seminar. Further senior participants are being approached.'
Amongst the speakers is only one trade union official, Susan Murray, from Unite the Union assigned to speak in the session entitled Health and safety regulation ‐ assessing a renewed framework. The full details of this session makes interesting reading:
Health and safety regulation ‐ assessing a renewed framework
Perspectives on the current agenda for reform of health and safety regulation since Lord Young’s review ‘Common Sense,
Common Safety’.
Has the creation of an official register for Occupational Safety and Health Consultants laid the foundations
for adequate regulation of the profession, and to what extent does rogue advice continue to be a problem for the sector?
Howcan Government’s plans for light‐touch and better targeted regulation produce efficiency gains without reducing health
outcomes?
What sectors are most likely to flout regulation in search of a competitive advantage, and will proposed financial
deterrents for serious breaches be adequate to address this ongoing concern?
How have stakeholders reacted to recentinitiatives ‐ such as simplified self‐assessment forms for small businesses ‐ and will Government’s broader aims to shiftregulation away from low‐risk working environments provide the intended boost to competitiveness and growth?
Questions and comments from the floor with Judith Hackitt, Chair, Health and Safety Executive
Susan Murray, Unite the Union
Paul Reeve, Head of Health, Safety and Environment, Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA)
Mary Boughton, Federation of Small Businesses
Andy Lucas, Operations Manager (Health and Safety), Birmingham City Council
Kevin Bridges, Partner, Pinsent Masons and Member of Council, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
(IOSH)
You can read the agenda for the seminar here
Priced at £190 plus vat per delegate, you can apply to attend via the website here
Source: Westminster Legal Policy Forum
