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The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has approved of the discussion initiated by a speech made by Conservative leader David Cameron at the recent Policy Exchange thinktank. In the speech, Cameron mentioned about the excessive rigidness of the health and safety rules.

The purport of Cameron’s speech was that safety and health rules are becoming too rigid and inflexible and they are starting to dictate workplace activities in a harsh manner. IOSH President John Holden supported Cameron’s view and considered the speech to be a starting point of discussion regarding risk control and responsibility at the workplace.

Holden stated that of late, IOSH has been walking a tightrope, as it is torn between the adoption of two extreme measures - that of avoidance of risk, and that of breaking away from excessive control. According to Holden, a common pathway between the two should be arrived at as soon as possible, which will avert risk without affecting the smooth functioning of organizations.

As regulations start becoming more rigid and inflexible and concern for safety reaches obsessive levels, the very people who are meant to be protected by these regulations have started questioning their effectiveness. Matters have to be remedied as soon as possible before there is strong reaction from the business community and the people against these draconian regulations.

However, Workplace Law MD David Sharp said recently that the regulations are not just a list of don’ts that impose harsh restrictions, or are only aimed at penalising any violation of law. He said that it is high time that the concerned authorities promoted health and safety rules as catalysts for the smooth functioning of organizations rather than as impediments that hamper workplace operations.

Sharp however highlighted the recent fall in workplace fatalities to emphasize on the necessity of safety rules.

IOSH training is designed to provide you with the knowledge to manage safely and effectively in compliance with both your organisation’s policy and best practice in health and safety, click on IOSH elearning for information on a unique web-based training course leading to the award of the IOSH Managing Safely Certificate. Through the Workplace Law Direct Study Centre, you can study when you like, where you like on a tailored course to suit your needs of your team.