MP
Frank Doran has renewed calls for a law to punish bosses whose reckless actions
cost lives, by placing a corporate killing Bill before parliament.
Tony
Woodley, general secretary of the Transport and General Union, said Doran’s
Bill should act as another call on ministers to act by confirming a date for
the introduction of legislation.
“Frank
Doran’s actions are praiseworthy. It is a sad fact of life that bosses are
getting away with murder and will continue to do so until they realistically
face the prospect of jail," said Woodley.
“Fines
are falling while deaths are rising as the existing law fails both workers and
their families,” he said.
In
1996, the Law Commission recommended that an offence of corporate killing
should be enacted. In 1997, the Government pledged to improve safety by
ensuring that companies and directors could more easily be held to account for
negligent or reckless conduct.
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Workplace
deaths are now running at more than 1,500 a year. The Health & Safety
Executive estimates that up to 40 per cent of those deaths are the result of
serious management failures.
