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

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

StressEconomics, government & businessLatest NewsHealth and safetyDepartment for Work and Pensions

Families put pressure on government to accept directors duties Bill

by Michael Millar 3 Mar 2005
by Michael Millar 3 Mar 2005

Families of workers who were killed or injured in a work-related incident have written to Jane Kennedy, minister of state at the Department for Work and Pensions today to urge her to back the Health & Safety (Directors Duties) Bill.


This week Personnel Today revealed that the government has indicated that it will support a private member’s Bill to hold directors liable for deaths at work.


Stephen Hepburn MP, who introduced the Bill, told Personnel Today that minister for work Jane Kennedy was “very supportive in principle”. He said that he had “a lot of support from all parties” and fully expected a successful vote at its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday.


The Health and Safety (Directors Duties) Bill would put a general duty on all company directors and large companies to appoint a director at board level to be responsible for health and safety. Under the Bill, companies would not just face fines, but the prospect of custodial sentences for directors where serious health and safety breaches or negligence at work results in death.


The families writing to MPs have all been bereaved by workplace incidents except one signatory who was left permanently disabled as a result of a workplace incident.


Many of the families were involved in prosecutions as a result of their tragedies. However, where prosecutions did take place, no director was convicted, according to the Transport and General Workers’ Union (T&G).


Tony Woodley, T&G general secretary, said, “MPs have a real opportunity to deliver justice for workers who have been killed or injured at work. Their families are right to ask why no-one is being held to account for their loss. Labour gave its support to directors’ duties eight years ago. Workers and their families should not have to wait a day longer for the law to be reformed.”


 

Avatar
Michael Millar

previous post
DWP and CIPD launch pensions information online
next post
Union calls on train service company to repay subsidies

You may also like

Pay all care workers a £10.50 hourly minimum...

30 Jun 2022

Royal Mail managers vote to strike over restructure

30 Jun 2022

Give wellbeing a board seat: Prof Sir Cary...

30 Jun 2022

One in five workplaces lack LGBT support policies

30 Jun 2022

Christian doctor loses transgender pronoun case, but beliefs...

29 Jun 2022

New chief workforce officer at NHS England

29 Jun 2022

Staff shortages affecting business growth at three in...

29 Jun 2022

MP seeks action on Passport Office’s ‘toxic’ working...

29 Jun 2022

Six in 10 seek help with cost of...

29 Jun 2022

What has cyber security got to do with...

29 Jun 2022

  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...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