§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new EC regulations there are concerning health and safety for the workplace; when they will be implemented; what measures she intends to take to ensure that they are fully implemented by all employers; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinOn 1 January this year, the United Kingdom introduced the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations, the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations, and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (Amendment) Regulations to implement the EC framework directive on health and safety at the workplace and a series of associated directives which required implementation action by this date.
There are a further seven adopted EC directives concerning health and safety at the workplace which are awaiting implementation covering biological agents at work, to be implemented by 26 November 1993; provision of safety and/or health signs at work, 24 June 1994; temporary or mobile construction sites, 31 December 1993; indicative limit values, 31 December 1993; improving the safety and health of workers in the extractive industries—boreholes, 3 November 1994, mines and quarries, 3 December 1994; and pregnant workers, 9 October 1994.
In addition, there are five sets of regulations under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 in preparation which will be brought forward to implement EC legislation covering the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances; vocational training for drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods by road; and the protection of workers exposed to the risks of ionising radiation.
Employers have a statutory duty to comply with regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. The regulations which came into force on 1 January 1993 are being enforced by the appropriate authorities in the same way as other health and safety legislation. The Government appreciate that employers need time to assimilate and implement new regulations and that timescales for implementation of EC directives are short. HSE inspectors are concentrating on promoting awareness and providing guidance, particularly where requirements are new or more prescriptive than earlier legislation. They will continue to take enforcement action where significant risks exist.
My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced a scrutiny into the way EC regulations impact upon business. The scrutiny is due to report on 27 May. We shall study its recommendations with interest.
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§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to amend the current health and safety regulations for the workplace; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Department has no immediate plans to amend the current health and safety regulations which apply to the workplace.
The Health and Safety Commission has a remit under section 1(2) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to seek to rationalise and modernise health and safety legislation, by means including consolidation, and has made substantial progress. In the context of the Government's deregulation initiative, the commission is now conducting a review of all existing health and safety legislation. The review, which should take about 12 months to complete, will consider whether further repeals or simplification are possible without endangering acceptable health and safety standards.