Let-off for directors takes shine off new law
Let-off for directors takes shine off new law
Unions and campaign groups have given a lukewarm welcome to the new corporate killing law, saying the omission of explicit legal duties on and penalties for company directors is a major flaw. Alan Ritchie, general secretary of construction union UCATT, said it was 'a hollow victory.' He added: 'The issue of directors' duties will not go away because without them the construction industry will not become an appreciably safer industry.' Bud Hudspith, national safety officer with Unite's Amicus section, welcomed the law, but added 'we will still press for individual duties for directors found guilty of serious breaches of health and safety to be included. All the evidence shows that this is a key determinant in companies making improvements to their health and safety provisions.' GMB national safety officer John McClean said 'it does not go far enough in that individual directors and employers may still be able to evade prosecution for their negligence which results in serious injuries and deaths. GMB sees this bill as a starting point in the ongoing campaign to make senior managers liable as individuals for negligent behaviour.' ASLEF general secretary Keith Norman said: 'If train drivers cause an accident they can go to prison - yet the bosses who provide them with equipment which may be faulty and cause an accident will get off scot-free.' Hilda Palmer of Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK) said the failure to make directors more responsible 'means there will be relatively little deterrent effect. This is very much a business as usual Bill and comes at a time when deaths at work are rising, when enforcement action is dropping and when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is being decimated [Risks 315]. The fight for justice and prevention of unnecessary deaths at work will have to go on.'
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