The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is inviting views on the proposed definitions of those self-employed people who will continue to have duties under health and safety law.
Under current proposals, self-employed persons will be exempt from Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) except those undertaking activities on a prescribed list.
On Monday, July 7, the HSE launched an online consultation that explains the prescribed activities, as well as seeking views on the proposed definitions.
The consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on 31 August. Responses will be analysed once it is closed.
The health and safety law still applies to anyone who undertakes prescribed activities.
Prescribed activities are those that have high rates of injuries and/or fatalities, such as agriculture; where there is a significant risk to members of the public, for example fairground attractions; where there is the potential for mass fatalities, such as explosives; and where there is a European Union obligation to retain the general duty on self-employed persons, for example at temporary or mobile construction sites.
The HSE is keen for anyone who carries out these prescribed activities to get in touch so they can make sure that the health and safety law is defined and easy to understand.
They also want to provide clear health and safety guidance to all self-employed workers in an accessible way. The feedback they expect to receive from this consultation will help them to do this.
Anybody who wants to have their say on the proposal should visit the HSE website. The proposed changes are still subject to parliamentary clearance, and if approved, are likely to come into effect in 2015.
