Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Health and safetyLatest NewsWellbeing

Corporate manslaughter laws hailed as ‘new dawn’ for health and safety

by Mike Berry 4 Apr 2008
by Mike Berry 4 Apr 2008

The new Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act marks a new dawn for corporate accountability in the UK, according to a health and safety chief.


Ray Hurst, president of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), said the new Act – which comes into force on 6 April – should serve as a deterrent to organisations that disregard health and safety and boost workplace standards.


Last year, 241 workers were killed in Britain, and there are also an estimated 1,000 work-related road traffic deaths each year. However, there have only ever been a handful of convictions under the existing corporate manslaughter laws, all involving smaller organisations.


Hurst said: “We hope the new law will prompt organisations to ensure they have strong health and safety leadership, effective systems and positive cultures.”


New research released by law firm Peninsula found that more than half of the 1,375 employers surveyed were ignorant of the new Act. Furthermore, 74% of firms were yet to review safety policies and procedures in light of the new laws.


Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Courts will be able to impose substantial fines and order guilty organisations to publicise their convictions. They will also be able to impose remedial orders which could include compulsory health and safety training, and possible suspension of all or part of the board.


But construction union Ucatt as called the new legislation “the dampest of damp squibs”, because it does not allow bosses whose negligence leads to the death of their workers to be sent to prison.

Mike Berry

previous post
Network of therapists to help mild mental ill-health sufferers
next post
Need to know: share prices

You may also like

Reshuffle sparks fears over Employment Rights Bill

8 Sep 2025

Report calls for ban on barristers’ sexual relations...

8 Sep 2025

Jobcentres more about benefits than work, say MPs

8 Sep 2025

Pay awards feeling tightest squeeze since December 2021

8 Sep 2025

Employee who shopped online at work wins unfair...

8 Sep 2025

EHRC submits new code of practice to government

5 Sep 2025

Lloyds Banking Group to target underperformers for job...

5 Sep 2025

How to manage workplace investigations effectively

5 Sep 2025

Manager who called bosses ‘dickheads’ was unfairly dismissed

5 Sep 2025

Jaguar Land Rover staff sent home after cyber...

5 Sep 2025

  • Work smart – stay well: Avoid unnecessary pain with centred ergonomics SPONSORED | If you often notice...Read more
  • Elevate your L&D strategy at the World of Learning 2025 SPONSORED | This October...Read more
  • How to employ a global workforce from the UK (webinar) WEBINAR | With an unpredictable...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits Live
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise