Health and Safety News Archive
25 Apr 2008 - New Health and Safety Legislation Comes Into Force
April has seen businesses setting health and safety high on their agendas once again, as the government’s new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act takes effect. The act, which was drawn up in July 2007 and became applicable on 6th April 2008, means that companies are now more liable to be prosecuted where “a gross failure in the way activities were managed or organised results in a person’s death”.
The new legislation does not present any new regulatory standards, but does place a greater onus on businesses to manage risks more effectively. Special responsibility is placed on the higher levels of organisations and their obligation to put in place proper systems and processes for managing the safety of their employees. Any organisation found guilty of the offence will have to pay an unlimited fine, and may be required to publicise details of its conviction and penalty.
Speaking at Capita Senior Directors’ Health and Safety Briefing in London on 22nd April, Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, said "The challenge now is very much with directors and boards who must seize the opportunity to critically evaluate the risks in their business and the adequacy of their leadership and to make changes. Directors and boards need to translate words into actions, and deliver - the ball is in their court."
The full text of the act can be found at http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/corporatemanslaughter2007.htm
Source: Health and Safety Executive, Ministry of Justice
