Primary Colour:
Primary Text:
Secondary Colour:
Secondary Text:
Tertiary Colour:
Tertiary Text:
Colour Picker
Preview
FeaturesTypographyTutorials
Module Title
Home
Module Title

This block of text is used as an example for the colour chooser module on this web site. This paragraph is functionally unimportant, and can safely be ignored.

Module Title
Module Title
Instructions

Select a predefined style from the drop-down or choose your own colours via the handy colour-chooser. When you are satisfied with your selection, click the "Apply Colours" button below to store your selection in a cookie.

Apply Colours

Holyrood opinion poll

With the publication of the interim Calman Report, do you think –
 
Home
UK position on health and safety upheld Print E-mail
Monday, 18 June 2007

The UK government has fended off a legal challenge by the European Commission that could have obliged them to spend far more on health and safety.

The issue centred on one of the basic tenets of UK law, that employers should take steps to safeguard the health and safety of workers 'so far as is reasonably practical'.

The Commission claimed that the use of the phrase contravened the European Framework Directive on health and safety. However the European Court of Justice found in the UK’s favour and dismissed the allegations.

Steffan Groch, health and safety partner at major law firm DWF, said: "The use of the phrase 'so far as reasonably practicable' has been a long standing feature of English law and predates even the Health and Safety at Work 1974. It introduces flexibility into the law, unlike in some other member states where the rules are written in absolute terms.

"If the UK government had lost the case it would have meant rewriting health and safety laws and employers would have been required to resolve all health and safety issues with no expense spared.

"The judgement vindicates the UK’s position on health and safety, as does our safety record. While care is needed in making comparisons between member states, the EU’s own figures show that, with an annual mortality rate of 1.1 per 100,000 workers, the UK has the best safety record in Europe."
No one has commented on this article.
The author or administrator has closed this item for comments.


Related news items:
 
[ Back ]

Featured sites

Site news...


Holyrood.com has received a facelift, to coincide with the last magazine of the season.

Along with the new template, we've also launched a forum for registered users.

Please feel free to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


 
Visitors: 6523541