Young Report consultations: your opinion counts

4 February 2011

The Young Report, published in October last year, calls for a range of reforms to health and safety in the UK. The government report sets out a series of consultations around some of the proposed changes, including a new online risk checklist regime, an overhaul of RIDDOR and a shake-up of the “current raft” of health and safety laws.

These consultations give us the opportunity to shape the future of health and safety in the UK. We’re calling on our members working in every sector to share their insights and ideas – this is your chance to get your views known on the issues that matter to you and your profession.

You can get involved by:

• sending us your comments direct
• taking part in one of the surveys we’ll be running
• applying to join a policy panel – these new panels will bring members together on a one-off basis to focus on a specific issue or sector
• feeding back on draft IOSH responses posted in our members-only forum

The first major consultation paper, on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, has already been released. Please let us have your views in the online survey we’re launching today. You can also email your views to us direct.

Says Dr Luise Vassie, Executive Director of Policy:

“We know that getting us feedback on consultations can be difficult when time is in short supply, so we want to make it as easy as possible for members to tell us what they think. And we’re now giving members the chance to have their say at different stages in the process, so you can decide when and how you get involved.”

We are currently looking for your views on the online risk tools for shops and charity shops (closing dates 8 February and 15 February). Have a look at the consultation pages for more details. We’ll also be asking you what you think about the concept of these online assessments – the Health and Safety Executive has trialled four on its site so far. Other important consultations scheduled under the Young Report are:

• changes to how standards are assessed in large, multi-site retail businesses (consultation paper due for release in “early 2011”)
• consolidating health and safety law into what the Young Report describes as a “single set of accessible regulations” (due out in March)
• reform of civil justice (due in spring)
• a new voluntary code of practice to cover adventure activities (due in spring)

Keep an eye on Connect and the IOSH website for news on Young Report consultation releases, surveys, policy panels and our draft responses. You can also keep up to speed by following us on Twitter and Audioboo.