ABOUT IOSH

2. ABOUT IOSH • Established in 1945, received Royal Charter in 2003 • Europes leading health and safety professional body • Over 27,000 members in more than 50 countries • An independent, not-for-profit organisation • Maintains and steers professional standards • Provides impartial, authoritative guidance on health and safety issues …for a healthy and safe world of work

3. THE LAW • Evidence to Work and Pensions Select Committee Inquiry into health and safety • Current regulatory regime is satisfactory • No call for much new legislation – in fact main drive should be simplification especially for small businesses

4. DEREGULATION? • World Bank places UK in top 10 of 130 nations for least regulation • Arthur Andersen reports that we are more entrepreneur-friendly than any other EU state or the USA • Economist puts UK top (with Switzerland) ahead of USA • UK economy has done well during the world downturn • Federation of Small Businesses reports growing confidence, and growing businesses • We need to reject arguments that pretend that UK is strangling in red tape, or that health & safety is just red tape • Safe and healthy workplaces is an essential element of a fairly competitive, globalised economy

5. IOSH POSITION • Directing Mind requirement is inequitable • Cases have shown it hits small organisations, protects large • Solution is to create a Statute which places burden for acts and omissions fairly on all employers • New law would hold all to account • Care required to avoid personal witch hunts and reluctance to take responsibility in management structures • If well drafted will contribute to a better OSH regime • IOSH has consistently supported the calls for reform of the law of manslaughter