1. THE STRUCTURE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY LAW

Changes and development since last year

• the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is proposing to amend health and safety law in order to exempt some self-employed workers;

• the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 will amend section 47 of HSWA . The amendment means that workers will only be able to claim compensation for a workplace injury or disease if they can demonstrate employer negligence, even if it is accepted that employer had broken criminal safety law;

• the HSE has consulted on proposals to revise, consolidate or withdraw 15 ACOPs by the end of 2013 and make minor revisions (or no changes) to a further 15 ACOPs by 2014; and

• the TUC has renewed calls for a new positive legal duty on directors in a 10-point health and safety manifesto.