In its submission to the review, the union has urged Lord Young to tackle the negative media reporting blighting the sensible and proportionate health and safety regulation that seeks to enable, not stifle, work and community activities.

However, it acknowledges that advisors who poorly interpret or apply UK health and safety law may be doing so through a lack of competence or for profiteering.

Therefore the union supports measures to curb the ‘no win, no fee’ legal advertisements and strengthening of the accreditation of the safety consultancy market.

Prospect’s Deputy General Secretary, Mike Clancy, said: “Restoring the reputation of health and safety and tackling risk-aversion are aims Prospect shares.

“We agree with HSE Chair, Judith Hackitt, that people can use health and safety as a convenient excuse to hide behind, when their motives are more about cost, petty politics or a lack of spine to defend an unpopular decision. Yet the media and politicians have been shamefully silent when the truth has emerged.”

But, he said, the union would not support proposals to deregulate. “The flexibility of health and safety legislation has stood the test of time. It saves workers’ lives and promotes their health and productivity. Safety pays, danger costs.”