| 54. |
These areas apart, HSC’s current strategy
involves a ‘downplaying of further
regulatory solutions.’ Other regulatory
changes proposed in Revitalising, for example
on private prosecutions, are still under
consideration. Mr Williams of the Department
for Work and Pensions told us that the need
for regulation was looked at on a case by
case basis as part of the Regulatory Impact
Assessment. The Minister for Work, told
us that making directors’ duties for
health and safety statutory was not the
agreed way forward at this time. On legislation
to respond to the changing world of work
HSE has come to the conclusion that existing
health and safety legislation offers adequate
legal protection for all workers, regardless
of employment status. Action Point 31 of
Revitalising was that HSC should consult
on whether the duty on employers to ensure
the continuing health of employees, including
action to rehabilitate where appropriate,
could be usefully strengthened. However,
‘as there were no immediate legislative
opportunities’, it has been decided
that HSE should continue working in partnership
with DWP and [the Department for Health]
to take forward the job retention and rehabilitation
agenda.
|
