Update on Health and Safety Law
Statement of forthcoming regulations
Introduction
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is committed to helping business and other stakeholders adapt to changes in occupational health and safety law and practice. In February 2005, HSE decided to implement changes that arise from within the UK on only two dates each year. They have extended this to legislation arising from Europe, wherever it is in their control to do so.
- The two ‘Common Commencement Dates’ are:
- 6 April (the start of the tax year); and
- 1 October
- By harmonising commencement dates the HSE hopes that those affected (ie businesses, employee representatives and individuals) will be more aware of forthcoming changes and better able to plan for and implement new measures effectively.
- The dates provided in this statement are correct at the time of publication. However, commencement dates could change following consultation with stakeholders or consideration by the Health and Safety Commission and Ministers.
Further information on occupational health and safety laws and the supporting framework is available at hse.gov.uk/aboutus.
HSE Consultations
Details of new occupational health and safety policies and issues under consultation are available at hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm. The web page is updated regularly.
Notes
- The harmonisation of the commencement dates of legislation stems from a recommendation in the Better Regulation Task Force report ‘Employment Regulation: Striking a balance’, published in 2002. The Task Force reported that a common complaint by employers was that changes to employment policy seemed to happen in an uncoordinated fashion. It proposed common commencement dates for employment policy.
- Following a DTI pilot for employment legislation during 2004 and formal consultation with businesses, the Government undertook to extend common commencement dates to further areas of regulation during 2005 and 2006. HSE was among the first to adopt this approach.
We advertise new and amended legislation so that you can keep up to date with the changes that affect your industry and working environments. Look out for these in the following areas:
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