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Employment minister calls for an end to health and safety law misuse

01 September 2011

Employment minister Chris Grayling has said that health and safety legislation is being employed to stop people from enjoying themselves rather than to protect them.

Mr Grayling said that laws exist to safeguard public health yet some bodies are using them to prevent members of the public from having a good time because there are minor risks involved in some activities.

"We have seen an epidemic of excuses wrongly citing health and safety to prevent pretty harmless things with only very minor risks attached. This has to stop. Health and safety laws should not hamper everyday activities," he stated.

The minister made the claim after research from the Health and Safety Executive revealed that organisations such as Butlins and the Lawn Tennis Association have used legislation to prevent people from enjoying activities such as bumper cars colliding and from sitting on Murray Mount because of wet weather.

Jill Joyce, Senior Policy and Technical Adviser at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said that risks can be reduced if businesses take simple steps to improve safety standards.