23 September 2004 - CCA Publishes Report on Making Companies Safe
A report, by the Centre for Corporate
Accountability (CCA) - Making Companies Safe: What Works?, in
association with Amicus union, claims that a change in strategy by the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will not only reduce the number of
workplace inspections and frequencies, but will also put lives at risk.
The claim, by the CCA report, states that in order to guarantee safety at
work, inspection and investigation backed by legislation, are the most
effective methods, but they feel the HSE is moving away from this and
pursuing a more voluntary approach.
A source within Amicus believes that directional change, by HSE, had been
dictated by lack of resources, perhaps due to funding shortfalls. These
shortfalls may have resulted in a suspension of staff recruitment, reduction
of HSE inspectors and less frequent inspections.
The report also calls for new legislation on corporate killing, punishable
by either director's imprisonment, or massive fines for any companies found
guilty of causing to either employees or members of the public, death,
disease or injury. Corporate compliance on health and safety within
companies is due to the commitment and conduct of their senior officers.
Key points in the report:
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UK workplaces are experiencing low levels of inspection with only 1 in 20 premises nationally receiving at least 1 inspection in 2000/01
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In 2002/03 there was a 13% decrease in the number of health and safety inspectors compared with the previous year, from 1059 to 993
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The research says that fines are another important factor that determine how companies comply with the law. The HSE reported recently that the average fine per case fell by 20% from £11,141 to £8828 between 2001/02 and 2002/03
The report by the CCA, can be accessed by clicking the following link: Making Companies Safe: What Works?
Article by Alexandra Johnston
