Look for us on
Elliem Consulting
  • Home
    • Covid-19
  • About Us
  • What we do
    • Auditing
    • Training
    • Mentoring
    • Career Counselling
  • Books
  • Our Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Links
  • Our Policies
  • Doodles!
  • Small Business Saturday Video

Increased fines likely for H&S Breaches

11/19/2014

0 Comments

 
Under tougher sentencing guidelines proposed last week, large firms convicted of corporate manslaughter will face fines of up to £20m.

According to the Sentencing Council, which for England and Wales promotes greater consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary, punishments for organisations and individuals found guilty of health and safety as well as food safety and hygiene offences should also be substantially increased.

The Council produces guidelines on sentencing for the judiciary and aims to increase public understanding of sentencing, and the recommendations contained in its latest draft guidance for judges in England and Wales has now been put out for consultation.

In 2013/14 in the UK, 133 people were killed at work and 70 members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to work, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

However, to date, there have been only eight convictions for corporate manslaughter in England and Wales since the legislation was introduced in 2007. The largest fine issued thus far was handed down just a few weeks ago when a company was found guilty of corporate manslaughter and fined £500,000 following the death of an employee.

Given the fact that £500,000 is the biggest fine handed out so far, it is evident that the proposals from the Sentencing Council to substantially increase the fines are set to shake things up and ensure that companies start to take health and safety more seriously.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    thoughts on current business issues
    from a quality
    professional!

    Archives

    August 2018
    March 2018
    May 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Contact us
          ©  Elliem Ltd 2013
Photo used under Creative Commons from scott1723