Lord Hunt of Kings Heath has called for a common sense approach to risk management as he formally launched a debate on the causes of risk aversion in health and safety.
Speaking at the launch organised by the Health and Safety Executive in the House of Lords he said: "We must concentrate our efforts on the big issues that cause real harm and suffering and remember that excessive risk aversion does damage too. It hits organisational efficiency, competitiveness, restricts personal freedoms and damages the cause of protecting people form real harm.
"It is my intention to bring about a balanced approach to risk that will have at its heart an emphasis on the importance of communicating risk effectively."
