Insider Media Limited

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce said it “welcomes” the indication that the coalition government is set to unveil changes to health and safety rules which can be a "massive burden" to business.

It was reported earlier this week that Prime Minister David Cameron will announce the package of measures at the Conservative party conference in October. Forty recommendations are contained in a report by Margaret Thatcher’s former trade secretary Lord Young which will be published at the conference.

The Prime Minister wants to “slash the red tape” to stop low-risk workplaces such as offices being subject to the same tough rules as factories, according to reports.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, said the chamber and its members wanted “simplification” of the laws surrounding health and safety.

Cowcher said: “Health and safety legislation serves a very important function in ensuring that businesses take the appropriate action to safeguard the welfare of their employees and customers.

“However, in many cases it is too over-prescriptive and just places a considerable administrative and financial burden on firms to comply with this complex myriad of rules, regulations and directives.

“This legislation also needs to strike the right balance between employer responsibility and the need for employees to take responsibility for their own actions, to put an end to speculative claims where it is clear that the employer has fulfilled all its liabilities and has no case to answer.”