Two revised health and safety regulations take effect today that will help businesses more easily comply with the law.

The reporting of workplace injuries has been simplified and greater flexibility has been introduced for managing the provision of first aid training.


The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 have been amended to remove the requirement for Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to approve first aid training and qualifications.


The change is part of HSE's work to reduce the burden on businesses and put common sense back in to health and safety, while maintaining standards. The new approach applies to businesses of all sizes and from all sectors.


Information, including the regulations and guidance for employers is available on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/.


Changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 have been introduced that clarify and simplify the reporting requirements, while ensuring that the data collected gives an accurate and useful picture of workplace incidents.


The changes affect all employers - including the self-employed. Information and guidance is available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/.


Both changes follow a review of health and safety legislation by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt in which he made a number of recommendations that the Government appointed HSE to implement.


Neither change alters the duties and responsibilities already placed on employers. For example, businesses still have a legal duty to make arrangements to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.


The amendments to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 do not affect how an incident at work is reported and the criteria that determine whether an incident should be investigated.