News and Press Releases
New health & safety law could mean jail for managers
28th October 2008
Company directors and managers who turn a blind eye to health and safety problems could find themselves facing jail from the New Year.
The Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 was given Royal assent last week. It means that from January 2009 stricter punishments will come into force in the UK.
They include jail sentences of up to two years for individuals deemed to be at blame.
There will be many more offences that employers can be imprisoned and prosecuted for. One example is if an employee was hurt while driving a company vehicle. Their manager or director could be prosecuted if it was proved the vehicle was badly maintained, or the employee was forced to work long hours.
On top of the jail sentences, the maximum fine that can be imposed by magistrates has increased to a staggering £20,000 – four times the current limit.
The law represents a general shift in attitude by the government towards individuals in a company taking accountability for health & safety, especially where there is a fatality.
And it means that business directors and managers will have to be more vigilant than ever before about ensuring staff have adequate health & safety training.
