The government is still keen to ensure that health and safety remains a top priority for employers, despite efforts to reduce bureaucratic red tape in some areas.

Ministers are as keen as ever that workplaces maintain a commitment to health and safety, according to the British Safety Council's director of policy and research, Neal Stone.

Freelance contractors may fear being left out of the health and safety loop by some employers, because they are not in the building as often or are only present with a company on a temporary basis.

However, there is no reason for a conscientious employer to overlook any workers when communicating health and safety procedures and updates.

Mr Stone advised: "All the evidence shows quite clearly if you manage health and safety effectively and do the things that you really should do ... it is key to business success more generally."

His comments come after the Health and Safety Executive proposed to cut the number of unannounced workplace inspections it conducts by a third.