Fight on ‘compensation culture’

BRITAIN’S so-called “compensation culture” is expected to come under fire when plans to strip back health and safety rules are published today.

A government-commissioned review of the regulations, which ministers say place “unnecessary burdens on business”, will include proposals for ways to consolidate or simplify existing statutes.

Among the recommendations made by the report is a plan for responsibility to be put back into the hands of individuals, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said.

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The aim of this proposal is to cut the number of employees claiming damages from employers for accidents that were their own fault, it is understood.

The report will suggest that bosses “who have done all they reasonably can to ensure their employees’ safety” should not be penalised, a DWP spokeswoman said.

Carried out by Professor Ragnar Lofstedt, of King’s College London, the study was ordered by the coalition earlier this year as part of a package of changes to the health and safety system to support the growth agenda and cut red tape.

Examples of the bans uncovered by the Health and Safety Executive included Wimbledon tennis officials citing health and safety as a reason to close Murray Mount when it was wet and stopping dodgem cars from bumping into each other at a holiday park in Skegness.