This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8388025.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Cameron attacks health and safety | Cameron attacks health and safety |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has called for an end to the UK's "over-the-top" health and safety culture. | Conservative leader David Cameron has called for an end to the UK's "over-the-top" health and safety culture. |
| In a speech, he said this had created a "stultifying blanket of bureaucracy, suspicion and fear". | In a speech, he said this had created a "stultifying blanket of bureaucracy, suspicion and fear". |
| In recent years, he added, children had been told to wear goggles to play conkers and trainee hairdressers had been banned from using scissors. | In recent years, he added, children had been told to wear goggles to play conkers and trainee hairdressers had been banned from using scissors. |
| But the TUC said the Tories should make comments "based on facts, not on half-truths" taken from newspapers. | But the TUC said the Tories should make comments "based on facts, not on half-truths" taken from newspapers. |
| Mr Cameron announced a review of the rules when he spoke to the Policy Exchange think tank. | Mr Cameron announced a review of the rules when he spoke to the Policy Exchange think tank. |
| Village fetes | Village fetes |
| He said there were often "noble" intentions behind laws, but added: "I think we'd all concede that something has gone seriously wrong with the spirit of health and safety in the past decade. | He said there were often "noble" intentions behind laws, but added: "I think we'd all concede that something has gone seriously wrong with the spirit of health and safety in the past decade. |
| "When children are made to wear goggles by their head teacher to play conkers. | "When children are made to wear goggles by their head teacher to play conkers. |
| "When trainee hairdressers are not allowed scissors in the classroom. | "When trainee hairdressers are not allowed scissors in the classroom. |
| I want to see if we can extend this sort of legal protection for all people acting in good faith - especially public service professionals David Cameron | I want to see if we can extend this sort of legal protection for all people acting in good faith - especially public service professionals David Cameron |
| "When office workers are banned from moving a chair without expert supervision. When staff at a railway station don't help a young mum carry her baby son's buggy because they are not insured. | "When office workers are banned from moving a chair without expert supervision. When staff at a railway station don't help a young mum carry her baby son's buggy because they are not insured. |
| "When village fetes are cancelled because residents can't face jumping through all the bureaucratic hoops. | "When village fetes are cancelled because residents can't face jumping through all the bureaucratic hoops. |
| "It is clear that what began as a noble intention to protect people from harm has mutated into a stultifying blanket of bureaucracy, suspicion and fear that has saturated our country, covering the actions of millions of individuals as they go about their daily lives." | "It is clear that what began as a noble intention to protect people from harm has mutated into a stultifying blanket of bureaucracy, suspicion and fear that has saturated our country, covering the actions of millions of individuals as they go about their daily lives." |
| Mr Cameron said the "fear of transgressing" UK and EU rules sometimes meant people "stand aside when others need help". | Mr Cameron said the "fear of transgressing" UK and EU rules sometimes meant people "stand aside when others need help". |
| Lawyers' incentives | Lawyers' incentives |
| He cited the death of Jordon Lyon in September 2007 as an example, saying the 10-year-old had "drowned in a pond, having rescued his young sister, because officers were told not to intervene as they hadn't undertaken their 'water rescue' health and safety training". | He cited the death of Jordon Lyon in September 2007 as an example, saying the 10-year-old had "drowned in a pond, having rescued his young sister, because officers were told not to intervene as they hadn't undertaken their 'water rescue' health and safety training". |
| Mr Cameron insisted the biggest cause of the UK's health and safety culture was the "perception" that "behind every accident there is someone who is personally culpable, someone who must pay". | Mr Cameron insisted the biggest cause of the UK's health and safety culture was the "perception" that "behind every accident there is someone who is personally culpable, someone who must pay". |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe problem with 95% of Health and Safety rules is that they are put in place to prevent paranoid organisations from being suedReg Pither, London Send us your comments | |
| "We see it in those adverts on television, which say that if you've suffered some fall or mishap you can take legal action without much cost. | "We see it in those adverts on television, which say that if you've suffered some fall or mishap you can take legal action without much cost. |
| "We see it in the commercialising of lawyers' incentives to generate litigation, through the system of enhanced success fees and referral fees which has led to a growth in 'ambulance-chasing'." | "We see it in the commercialising of lawyers' incentives to generate litigation, through the system of enhanced success fees and referral fees which has led to a growth in 'ambulance-chasing'." |
| Mr Cameron announced that former Conservative Trade Secretary Lord Young would lead a review into how the health and safety culture can be curbed. | Mr Cameron announced that former Conservative Trade Secretary Lord Young would lead a review into how the health and safety culture can be curbed. |
| He said: "I want to see if we can extend this sort of legal protection for all people acting in good faith - especially public service professionals." | He said: "I want to see if we can extend this sort of legal protection for all people acting in good faith - especially public service professionals." |
| 'Traditional heroism' | 'Traditional heroism' |
| The Health and Safety at Work Act would also be amended to ensure the danger of prosecution does not put teachers off taking children for adventurous activities. | The Health and Safety at Work Act would also be amended to ensure the danger of prosecution does not put teachers off taking children for adventurous activities. |
| A Conservative government would seek to renegotiate EU regulations such as the Working Time Directive, which limits junior doctors' hours. | A Conservative government would seek to renegotiate EU regulations such as the Working Time Directive, which limits junior doctors' hours. |
| It would prioritise the risk to the public above that to police officers, allowing them to act with their "traditional heroism", Mr Cameron said. | It would prioritise the risk to the public above that to police officers, allowing them to act with their "traditional heroism", Mr Cameron said. |
| He called for changes to the laws governing compensation claims, although he did not demand an end to "no-win, no-fee" arrangements. | He called for changes to the laws governing compensation claims, although he did not demand an end to "no-win, no-fee" arrangements. |
| A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "The Health and Safety Executive announced in the summer that it wanted to help ensure that businesses of all sizes were able to comply with regulations in a way that was sensible and proportionate both in terms of the size of that organisation and the activity they are involved in. | A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "The Health and Safety Executive announced in the summer that it wanted to help ensure that businesses of all sizes were able to comply with regulations in a way that was sensible and proportionate both in terms of the size of that organisation and the activity they are involved in. |
| "Health and safety is not just about rules and regulations; it is about the reduction of accidents and injuries in the workplace. | "Health and safety is not just about rules and regulations; it is about the reduction of accidents and injuries in the workplace. |
| "Hundreds of companies and organisations are working with the HSE every day to maintain the UK's excellent record on safety, which is one of the best in Europe." | "Hundreds of companies and organisations are working with the HSE every day to maintain the UK's excellent record on safety, which is one of the best in Europe." |
| TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "None of the cases mentioned relate to health and safety regulation - they are either distortions of the facts or misunderstandings. | TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "None of the cases mentioned relate to health and safety regulation - they are either distortions of the facts or misunderstandings. |
| "People expect political parties to develop policies based on facts, not on half-truths and myths culled from newspaper headlines." | "People expect political parties to develop policies based on facts, not on half-truths and myths culled from newspaper headlines." |