UK's fastest-growing H&S provider refutes Vadera's 'exploitation' claim

Health and safety consultants mhl support have responded to criticism from business minister Shriti Vadera suggesting that companies choosing to outsource the management of Health & Safety were being exploited.

Baroness Vadera has accepted that consultants play an important role in supporting business on health and safety regulations, but claimed that many businesses, particularly SMEs, were being persuaded to pay for work that was either unnecessary or better handled in-house.

Laurence Begley, Sales Director of one of the UK’s fastest growing H&S consultancy firms, said: "Baroness Vadera has suggested that companies are spending money where they would be better to spend the time researching legislation on the internet, and downloading, completing and submitting forms to save themselves money.

Mr Begley said: "I am cannot speak on behalf of all H&S specialists however mhl support is surprised at the suggestion that we would exploit the very businesses that we are established to help."

"Of course documents are available on the internet to download, but these may not be easy to find and fill in correctly, and are not necessarily simple and speedy to complete. Very often problems occur when companies download such documents , but then misinterpret what action is required, which can then make the situation worse."

"We have not won accolades for being one of the industry’s fastest growing providers of H&S support by exploiting SMEs," said Mr Begley. "The comprehensive services we offer, are categorised according to the size of the business to ensure that an mhl client isn't paying for services which they may not need and incurring unnecessary expense".

Colin McLean, general manager of Harrier Security, said that mhl's service was a vital resource for the company, and more cost-effective than an in-house facility: "We don’t have the capacity for an in-house department to understand the intricacies of employment law and health and safety but having specialist help through mhl support has been invaluable".

"Most businesses, particularly in the current climate, are focused towards making money rather than trying to make their companies compliant via the web I would welcome the opportunity of explaining personally our unique approach to Shriti's and prove that outsourcing H&S really is the most cost effective option to H&S management" concluded Mr Begley.