Cameron pledges reform of health and safety rules

By Tim Castle

LONDON (Reuters) - Conservative leader David Cameron promised on Tuesday to reform Britain's "over-the-top" health and safety culture, saying it had become a straitjacket on personal initiative and responsibility.

A Conservative government would bring back "common sense, discretion and personal responsibility," he told an audience in London.

The Trades Union Congress accused Cameron of distortion and urged politicians not to undermine a consensus over health and safety in the run up to the general election due by next June.

Cameron acknowledged that heath and safety legislation has brought benefits, with Britain enjoying one of the lowest workplace fatality rates in the European Union.

But the opposition leader said something had gone wrong with the interpretation of the legislation in the past decade.

"When children are made to wear goggles by their head teacher to play conkers, when trainee hairdressers are not allowed scissors in the classroom ... We've got to ask: how has this been allowed to happen?"

He blamed a growing compensation culture, with highly publicised claims for injuries creating a legal "hypersensitivity" to risk and accidents.

"Businesses, organisations and individuals operate under the shadow of the worst case scenario," he said.