The coalition government has pledged to stop businesses going to extraordinary lengths in order to meet health and safety legal demands and to bring back public confidence to the sector.

In difficult economic times it is essential that if there are business opportunities they are not missed. At the same time it has to be understood that in selected businesses health and safety should never be undervalued.

Prime Minister, David Cameron has pledged to tackle a “damaging” compensation culture and he called for an end to “senseless” regulations. Some might argue that just as American investment banks came to London, the American compensation culture is finding its way to our shores.

According to the Prime minister, the review carried out by Conservative minister Lord Young could act as a “turning point” which also explained how public opinion of health and safety is at an all time low.

In a foreword to Lord Young’s report, the Prime minister said the government would reduce marketing activities carried out by irresponsible claims and management companies which only feed the compensation culture.

A few of these legal firms, which do not represent the whole industry, have used disreputable techniques to acquire buyers and damaged the sector. Additionally the advertisements by some of these companies is painful to watch and highly deceptive.

The PM said: “We’re going to focus regulations where they are most needed, with a new system that is proportionate, not bureaucratic, that treats adults like adults, and reinstates some common sense and trust.”

Even though there were grumbles that the report did very little in the way of plans to reduce the high levels of workplace injury, illness and death, nevertheless the overwhelming majority of business groups including many law firms welcomed the review and what came out of it.

Lord Young said there was a “growing fear” among business owners of having to pay out for even the most ridiculous claims. He added that the system for claiming compensation was a growing industry and advised that the incentives for claiming compensation had to change.

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