Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Latest NewsHealth and safetyWellbeing

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.


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.

Avatar
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

Will the Scale-up visa increase the UK’s flow...

18 Aug 2022

Fall in number of students accepted on degree...

18 Aug 2022

Travel disruption: employers’ questions answered

18 Aug 2022

Royal Mail staff vote for more strike action

17 Aug 2022

Workers worse off as inflation hits double figures

17 Aug 2022

Harrods threatens to use agency staff if strike...

17 Aug 2022

Personnel Today Awards 2022 shortlist: Performance Management Award

17 Aug 2022

Police officers who are violent towards women should...

17 Aug 2022

A third consider job move due to cost...

17 Aug 2022

Government plans to slash Civil Service redundancy pay

16 Aug 2022

  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...Read more

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
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today