Workplace deaths should be cut through existing law

The CIPD
has rejected calls for tougher laws on corporate manslaughter following the
release of Health & Safety Executive figures that that show the number of
people killed at work increased by more than a third last year.

There were
295 deaths in the workplace in the UK last year, an increase of 34 per cent on
the previous year. There were 220 fatalities in 1999-2000.

TUC
general secretary John Monks criticised employers’ approach to safety and
renewed calls for the introduction of a corporate killing law.

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While the
CIPD accepts that increase is a problem that needs to be addressed, it doesn’t
believe new legislation is the solution.

Diane Sinclair, employee relations manager of the CIPD,
said, “We believe that there should be a tougher application of the current
Health & Safety Act by the HSE. The law as it stands, already provides for
directors to go to prison and for unlimited fines against offenders.”