In response to your article ’Red Tape challenge website will boost SMEs, says Longman’ (recruiter.co.uk, 11 April), we welcome the move to reduce unnecessary regulations, but while too much regulation can be viewed as a burden, a certain amount is essential to ensure the safety and wellbeing of businesses, their customers and their employees.

According to the HSE’s (Health & Safety Executive’s) most recent statistics, over 170 people died at work in the last nine months of 2010, an increase after an all-time low the previous year - this matter needs to continue to be taken seriously by government, businesses and employees. Effective good health and safety practises are key to lowering accident and death rates.

With companies worried about potential legal action and accidents in the workplace, there are instances where health and safety guidance is misinterpreted and taken to the extreme.

It’s right that businesses want to protect themselves and their employees, but they don’t always know what to do. The idea of making the process simpler should enable organisations to meet health and safety legislation without overloading on red tape.

Richard Evens, commercial training director at St John Ambulance