Corporate manslaughter campaign begins
The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) has said that the campaign to prevent workplace death and injury is “now underway” with the introduction of a new bill.
It said it will join other unions and groups representing families of industrial accident victims in support of the bill which was introduced to the Commons on Wednesday by Stephen Hepburn, Labour MP for Jarrow.
Though the Government has said it would introduce a new offence of corporate manslaughter in the Queen’s Speech, it only committed itself to publishing a draft bill. This was of concern to the unions who felt it was a serious slippage in terms of timescale as there is no way it would become law before the next general election.
Mr Hepburn’s private members bill – the Health & Safety (Directors’ Duties) Bill would place a duty on all company directors to be responsible for health and safety. Under the bill companies face not only fines but also the potential of custodial sentences for their directors for serious breaches resulting in death.
Mr Hepburn said: “There currently exists a state of “legalised ignorance” for directors when it comes to health and safety.
“This is unacceptable. Directors are people of tremendous power and with that power ought to come a responsibility to safeguard the health of their workforce and the public.”
In the last year, 235 workers were killed at work while over 30,000 suffered serious injuries.
