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28 February 2005 - Centre for Corporate
Accountability Publish New Research
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The Centre for Corporate Accountability (CCA) have published new
research showing only 11 company directors having been convicted of manslaughter
owing to work-related deaths. Of these 11 convictions, 5 were
sentenced to imprisonment, 5 suspended sentences and 1 community service order
was given.
However, the report also shows there were 27 directors convicted
of health and safety offences where prosecutions had been taken by the Health
and Safety Executive (HSE), 8 of which involved deaths, between the periods
April 2002 and November 2004.
The CCA's research shows that no directors were prosecuted for
health and safety offences during the same period, in Wales or the North West
region of England. They also show only one director having been
prosecuted for health and safety offences in the East Midlands, West Midlands,
Yorkshire and Scotland.
The research concludes the regions with the most convictions to
be in London having 6 convictions and Eastern region of England having 12.
It is to be noted, however, that the principle data for the
research was taken from the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) own
prosecution database which does not highlight any convictions currently under
appeal.
A Private Member's Bill is being promoted by Mr. Stephen Hepburn
Labour MP entitled the Health and Safety (Directors' Duties) Bill, which would
mean negligent health and safety practices by company directors causing injuries
or fatalities, would allow the company directors to be held to account.
The research by the CCA can be accessed by clicking the
following:
CCA Research
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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