IoD calls for company accountability for deaths at work

The
Institute of Directors (IoD) today called on the Government to introduce legislation
that would see corporate entities, rather than individuals standing trial for
corporate manslaughter.

The
IoD said that business should be "rightly be held accountable for its
actions", and the Government should use the Queen’s Speech to amend criminal
law to provide punishment where a company has acted recklessly.

IoD
director general George Cox said: "The IoD has been calling for corporate
manslaughter legislation for a number of years, not because we want to see a
proliferation of legislation, but because the current state of the law on this
issue is unsatisfactory."

"The
current law requires the identification of a ‘controlling mind’," he said.
"In large companies in particular, trying to pin down a nominated
individual is too difficult."

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The
list of legislation called for by the IoD also includes a skills bill, which
would give a guarantee of free education for any adult seeking their first
Level 2 qualification (equivalent to 5 GCSEs or NVQ Level 2).

By Michael Millar