Health and safety schemes launched to combat onfusion over regulations

Confusion among licensees over the number of health and safety regulations has led to the launch of two new initiatives aimed at helping small businesses cut through red tape.

The Hospitality Training Foundation (HTF) has launched a CD-Rom called Health and Safety -Towards a Safer Workplace as part of its Quality Business Initiative.

"The CD-Rom is in two parts and covers food hygiene and health and safety," said senior consultant Annette Cooper.

"It's part of our Quality Business initiative aimed at small and micro businesses which has been very successful and has so far gone out to about half-a-million businesses."

A television programme called Training for Profit, which is part of the initiative, will be repeated on the BBC's Learning Zone this summer between July 23 and August 17.

Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in association with Royal and Sun Alliance, has published a new computer software package designed to help small businesses.

The Essentials of Health and Safety Routemap has been designed to help businesses identify and control the risks to their employees.

"Health and safety failures cost Britain up to £18bn each year," said Timothy Walker, director-general of the HSE.

"The cost to employers of work-related accidents and ill-health is £140 to £300 for each worker employed. These figures underline the value of Essentials. It costs money - but can help save far more."

The Essentials Routemap includes a user guide and a copy of the Essentials of Health and Safety at Work handbook.

The CD-Rom uses question and answer techniques to produce health and safety reports which means employers can identify specific areas for improvement.

It also takes them through the process of preparing their own health and safety policy.

Last summer Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott launched the Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy which set new targets for reducing work-related injury over the next 10 years.