Small business could save up to £300million a year with better advice and support on health and safety.

At least according to a report by the Better Regulation Executive which examines how health and safety regulation affects low risk and small businesses.

It sets out recommendations to save these firms time and money, while improving working environments and general understanding of health and safety.

The report's recommendations include:

* improved web-based and telephone support, offering advice as well as information, for low risk businesses;
* better advice to help small businesses know when to buy-in the help of consultants for health and safety advice;
* maximising the resources of HSE and local authority inspectors, making inspection and enforcement more efficient, focusing on higher risk workplaces meaning fewer inspections for low risk;
* developing a new, single assurance scheme so small businesses can have just one process to deal with a range of requirements, including health and safety, fire, food safety regulations; and
* improving the perception and understanding of health and safety issues.

The average company spends around 20 hours a year, or more than £350, on administration meeting health and safety requirements. Cutting the time spent by just five hours per company would save low risk businesses £150 million a year.

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