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Table C: New simplification initiatives – timescales

Initiative Nature of burden Description of measure Desired outcome Estimated savings Progress and timescales
Good practice guidance on worker involvement – new combined good practice guidance on the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations and the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations. Policy and administrative The good practice guidance aims to clarify employer requirements on the provision of information to safety representatives. The overall objective of the guidance is to facilitate better dialogue and co-operation between employers and employees.
Clarifying the provision of information requirement aims to reduce costs of buying in external services to fulfil the requirement.
Using the ABME figures, the guidance could save businesses up to £36.6 million. October 2008 – publication of guidance
Autumn 2009 – evaluation to examine whether estimated savings have been delivered.
Removal of docks form required by Docks Regulations Administrative Removal of a form to certify a dock transport vessel required by the Docks Regulations. If the form is removed, businesses will save time and money. The form was estimated in the ABME to cost businesses £3.4 million. The form will be removed in parallel to remove the ACoP on Docks. This work is due to be carried out by April 2010.
Electronic risk assessment template – possibly a combination with a policy statement template Policy and administrative An electronic template for recording a risk assessment, possibly a combined template for completing a written health and safety policy statement, complementing the example risk assessments. To save businesses time in recording their risk assessment and thereby encouraging compliance with the requirement. To be quantified The electronic template is due to be developed in line with the written policy statement, for delivery by April 2009.