Health and Safety legislation, and in particular the Corporate Manslaughter legislation that was introduced in October 2007, has recently been the topic of much discussion in both the Health & Safety and business communities. Recently published reviews on the performance of the legislation by a range of legal experts highlight prosecution rates, and the influence that the legislation has had on companies. So this seems like a fitting time to revisit this legislation and ask what it means for companies and managers.
Essentially, the legislation aims to make it simpler to convict organisations for serious health and safety failings by management that result in a fatality. A case will take into account the attitudes, policies and accepted practices that are present in the organisation, and aim to assess how these may have contributed to the fatality. Recent changes to the sentencing guidelines mean that organisations found guilty will now usually face fines of at least £500,000. Organisations can also be convicted of other serious Health and Safety offences in the case of a fatality, which could result in a director being sentenced to up to 2 years in prison.
The focus here on managerial attitudes to Health and Safety is an important one. It reminds us that what is important is not just having the correct paperwork in place, it is having a ‘real life’ approach to Health and Safety – taking it seriously and making it a practical part of day-to-day workplace activity. Staff members need to see that their managers don’t just pay lip service to these issues – they actively engage in making their workplace a safer, better place to be. If managers have a lackadaisical attitude to corner-cutting, or an acceptance of activities that put people at risk, there is a real danger that this attitude permeates throughout the staff and leads to further unsafe practices.
So, what can you do to improve things? Fostering a better approach to Health and Safety requires the involvement of all levels of staff, and a focused look at what your company does, and how they do it. At Amalgamate we have the expertise to help you integrate Health and Safety into your working practices and reduce risk, making your workplace a better place to be. For more information contact us on 0141 244 0181, or at info@amalgamate-safety.com