Safety Signs News

IOSH concerned by potential reduction in consultation times

3rd September 2012 | Health and Safety Signs

Posted by Jason Nicholls

New consultation principles released by the UK government are under scrutiny by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

The document suggests that consultation periods for changes to policy and legislation last between two and 12 weeks. The government report also says that in certain circumstances, no consultation at all is necessary.

IOSH prefer and support the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) current standards, where at least 12 weeks of consultation time is provided. The institution says that, “severely cutting back that timescale would be foolhardy when lives are at stake”.

Richard Jones, IOSH head of policy and public affairs, says that this time is necessary in order to allow those with “important intelligence” the opportunity to collate and present data. If consultation times are reduced, there may not be sufficient time for complete and accurate impact proposals to be produced.

IOSH are requesting that the government does not rush decisions regarding health and safety consultation times, as it believes that reduction could negatively influence lives and businesses. ADNFCR-2754-ID-801439882-ADNFCR