The British government today pledged to tackle the so-called compensation culture that has left some bodies so afraid of being sued that even traditional activities like school trips and throwing snowballs are under threat.
It will ease safety rules for office workers and clamp down on advertising for "no win, no fee" injury lawyers.
More than 800,000 claims for compensation were made in Britain last year, fuelled by aggressive advertising promising no-risk litigation for injury victims.
The result was that employers, schools and voluntary bodies had become overzealous in curbing risks, tying themselves down in red tape and unnecessarily abandoning many activities, said veteran politician David Young in a review of health and safety laws.
"Today, accident victims are given the impression that they may be entitled to handsome rewards just for making a claim regardless of any personal responsibility," he said. "It is hardly surprising that many organisations seek to mitigate their liabilities with excessively risk-averse policies."
The government said it would accept all Mr Young's recommendations, including restricting injury compensation advertising and simplifying risk assessments for low hazard workplaces such as offices.
Teachers would be relieved of the lengthy paperwork required for taking pupils on trips, which would be replaced by a single consent document signed by parents when their children join a school. Many schools have cut back on educational visits because of the bureaucracy now required.
The review was ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron to restore what he called "common sense" to Britain's health and safety regulations.
Newspapers regularly report on apparently absurd restrictions imposed because of health and safety concerns. In most cases the bans have been introduced because of confusion over the regulations or fears that the slightest risk may lead to expensive litigation.
The country's Health and Safety Executive even publishes a "myth of the month" to deny suggestions it is to blame for some overzealous officials banning activities such as children throwing snowballs, people knitting in hospitals or pantomime actors throwing sweets to the audience.
Business leaders welcomed the review as lifting a burden on employers. "Lord Young is right. We need a can-do, not a can-sue culture," said John Cridland, deputy head of the employers' body, the Confederation of British Industry.
But unions were unimpressed and said the review was disappointing. "The report contains not a single proposal that will reduce the high levels of workplace death, injuries and illness," said Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the umbrella body, the Trades Union Congress.