Bill aims to make employers pay for safety breaches

An
MP has presented a Bill which would see companies that commit health and safety
crimes paying much higher fines for injuring or killing their employees.

Andy
Love’s Health and Safety at Work (Offences) Bill proposes that magistrates
courts be allowed to fine employers found guilty of health and safety offences
up to £20,000 (£5,000 is the current maximum).

Employers
who end up in court over safety issues, and who haven’t taken out employer
liability insurance, often end up with fines that are less than the cost of the
insurance premium they should have taken out.

Realising
that this is hardly an incentive for employers to be insured, Andy Love’s Bill
also wants penalties for non-insurance to be increased.

TUC
general secretary Brendan Barber said: "All too often, employers
committing major health and safety crimes are getting away with no more than a
slight slap on the wrist.

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"Higher
fines would help focus employer minds on the need for greater safety at work.
Bosses who employ workers in dangerous situations should have to pay the price
for their carelessness. I wish this Bill every success."

By Quentin Reade