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Proposals will increase penalties for health and safety offences
New powers to make transport operators and employers more responsible for the safety of their workers and the travelling public were announced last month in the Queen's speech.
The proposed Safety Bill is aimed at making travel by rail, air, sea and on the roads safer and will include proposals for revitalising health and safety at work. It will increase penalties for health and safety offences and remove Crown immunity from statutory enforcement.
The Safety Bill is likely to:
- Implement some of the recommendations from Lord Cullen's wide-ranging review of rail safety
- Tackle alcohol and drug use by safety-critical personnel in civil aviation and shipping
- Raise port and maritime safety standards
- Set a framework for delivery of Government commitments on road safety strategy and the meeting of new road safety targets
- Improve standards of health and safety in the workplace.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said, "There have been a number of disturbing safety issues raised in recent years, both among the travelling public and in the workplace.
"We are determined to do something about this. My whole working life has been dedicated to improving safety. This Bill should go a long way to making life safer for both workers and travellers."
