Companies have been left confused over their risk management policies after the Health & Safety Commission last week called for a focus on "real risks" and not "trivial risk and petty health and safety".

"We want to cut red tape and make a real difference to people's lives," said Jonathan Rees, Health & Safety Executive deputy chief executive. "Health and safety is not about long forms, back-covering or stifling initiative. It's about recognising real risks, tackling them in a balanced way."

But the HSC's new stance includes advice that risk management is "not about creating a totally risk-free society, generating useless paperwork mountains or scaring people by exaggerating or publicising trivial risk." This is causing confusion over what is sensible health and safety policy and what is excessive.

"We are getting mixed messages, you need risk management and assessment but don't make it too complicated," said Steve Johnson of training firm Drive and Survive. "The HSE now has a remit not to overburden business, and I think they've gone too far the other way. It's almost encouraging a tick-box mentality, making businesses think that they can go through the motions and do the minimum required."

"Risk assessment is at the heart of sensible health and safety," said Rees. "We believe it should be a practical way of protecting people from real harm and suffering, not a bureaucratic back-covering exercise. On its own, paperwork never saved a life, it needs to be a means to an end, resulting in actions that protect people in practice."

For more information, go to www.hse.gov.uk/risk. Paul BarkerCompanies have been left confused over their risk management policies after the Health & Safety Commission last week called for a focus on "real risks" and not "trivial risk and petty health and safety".

"We want to cut red tape and make a real difference to people's lives," said Jonathan Rees, Health & Safety Executive deputy chief executive. "Health and safety is not about long forms, back-covering or stifling initiative. It's about recognising real risks, tackling them in a balanced way."

But the HSC's new stance includes advice that risk management is "not about creating a totally risk-free society, generating useless paperwork mountains or scaring people by exaggerating or publicising trivial risk." This is causing confusion over what is sensible health and safety policy and what is excessive.

"We are getting mixed messages, you need risk management and assessment but don't make it too complicated," said Steve Johnson of training firm Drive and Survive. "The HSE now has a remit not to overburden business, and I think they've gone too far the other way. It's almost encouraging a tick-box mentality, making businesses think that they can go through the motions and do the minimum required."

The HSE has recently published revamped guidelines in an attempt to simplify risk management.

"Risk assessment is at the heart of sensible health and safety," said Rees. "We believe it should be a practical way of protecting people from real harm and suffering, not a bureaucratic back-covering exercise. On its own, paperwork never saved a life, it needs to be a means to an end, resulting in actions that protect people in practice."

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