Move to cut the safety “red tape” that is hitting SMEs

Many such companies face unnecessary problems in securing contracts because of the wide variety of schemes being used by clients or training providers wanting proof they can meet health and safety standards. Following a report from its National Occupational Safety and Health Committee, RoSPA is calling for a more uniform approach which would mean less paperwork, more efficiency and better help for companies that need to raise standards. The report has already been sent to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in response to the Better Regulation Executive’s call for evidence on how to improve health and safety performance in small “low risk” firms. Roger Bibbings, RoSPA occupational safety adviser, said: “The multitude of assessment, compliance and pre-qualification schemes means businesses that are applying for contracts have to be repeatedly filling in forms to meet the different requirements of each scheme. “Many of the schemes are of high quality, but few involve any mutual recognition. Some don’t even realise that others exist. That means duplication of effort and wasted resources when businesses could be using time more profitably.” “Hundreds of thousands of businesses have to submit to scrutiny by these schemes which can bring real added health and safety value if we can get the approach right,” concluded Bibbings.