Business told to prepare for new safety act

11/02/2008

Employers of legal and management jobs must prepare themselves for the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has warned.

The new Act comes into force on April 6th. It clarifies employers' criminal liabilities and can be used to prosecute organisations found guilty of corporate manslaughter.

Richard Jones, policy and technical director from IOSH said: "All significant risk areas must be effectively managed, including for example, occupational road risk, workplace transport and working from height."

He went on to suggest "employers should also have access to competent health and safety assistance".

The act is a landmark in UK law, as for the first time companies can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter because of serious management failures.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is offering free advice and an information pack to help organisations better prepare for the act's introduction.

< Back to News Listing