NW BTU H&S Co-ord Welcomes CM Bill

The announcement this week that the UK will finally have a Corporate Manslaughter law after over 10 years of it being promised by a Labour government has been welcomed, although it still falls short of most peoples wishes and promises given.

The main issue here is the fact that to date no one has been given prison sentences for deaths of their employees whilst at work. this despite some flagrant abuse of the countries health and safety legislation, not to mention the moral bankruptcy of those businesses concerned.

Derek Maylor, chair of the NW BTU H&S Coord, in welcoming the news said,

"After much campaigning, arguing and disagreement the Corporate Manslaughter Bill passed through Parliament Monday 23rd.July. Following the extension to enable further debate and a partly phased-in compromise, both Houses found agreement. This will lead to UK companies treating their health and safety more seriously in the boardroom. Deaths in work are avoidable and this legislation is welcome but we will still seek further legislation to bring individual company directors to justice. We will look to a bill for Directors Duties on Heath and Safety, ensuring custodial sentences for death at work where there is attributable negligence."

Meanwhile the TUC has called for further action also.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'We are pleased that a sensible decision has been taken and the bill will now become law. Even though unions wanted the bill to make individual directors personally liable for safety breaches and penalties against employers committing safety crimes to be tougher, we hope it will mean the start of a change in the safety culture at the top of the UK's companies and organisations."

Source: NW BTU H&S Co-ord, TUC

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