Businesses have been urged to review their health and safety protocols as the new offence of corporate manslaughter comes into force this weekend.
As of Sunday, companies will face prosecution if work-related deaths have resulted from shortcomings in management processes or health and safety procedures.
Under the Act, companies rather than individuals will be prosecuted, while directors and management come under intense scrutiny.
Roger Bibbings, RoSPA’s occupational safety adviser, commented: “If anyone dies as a result of gross corporate failings, directors who do not take safety seriously enough will find themselves in the firing line. Those organisations that have not assured themselves that they have proper corporate governance of safety in place need to take action.”
Businesses found guilty of the new offence could face an unlimited fine and may be forced to publicise details of the conviction.
Bibbings added: “The potential knock-on effects of a conviction are huge, including severe damage to reputation, resulting in a loss of business and plummeting share prices.”
Despite this, research released today from employment law firm Peninsula found that 54% of businesses are unaware of the changes in the law.
Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula, warned that small firms would become more vulnerable.
He said: “With over a million companies employing 10 people or less the vast majority, in my experience, do not have written health and safety policies.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2008