A quarter of small business owners are concerned that they will be prosecuted by the HSE over their firm's health and safety standards when new legislation is implemented on the 3rd of June, according to a research by the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

The Health and Safety Executive's new workplace strategy will put small firm owners under increased pressure to work closer with employees to improve health and safety and risk assessment.

"Complying with health and safety legislation is a costly, time-consuming exercise. Our research has shown that small business owners spend, on average, 14 hours per month filling-in forms specifically relating to health and safety," said Phil Orford, chief executive of the FPB.