Hundreds of UK companies were convicted of health and safety crimes during 1999/2000 by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In its most recent enforcement report, the HSE names 1600 companies, organisations and individuals it prosecuted during this period.
HSE director general Timothy Walker said: “Companies, organisations and individuals must be held accountable for their health and safety performance. The convictions are available for everyone to see, including customers, investors, contractors, employees and insurers.They all have a right to be aware of an organisation’s safety record before investing either their capital or labour.” Mr Walker criticised the low level of fines being handed down by British courts.
“Courts should exact stiffer penalties under existing laws and we need tougher penalties, including prison sentences. I am hopeful that the government will soon introduce manslaughter legislation which will create the new offence of corporate killing.” Drycleaners prosecuted by the HSE were: Jeeves of Belgravia, on two breaches of management of the H&S at Work Regulations, paid a total fine of £3000 (US$4500); the managers of Swift One Hour Dry Cleaning Ltd were charged with two breaches, one for the H&S at Work Regulations and the other for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), and the fines totalled £5000 (US$7500). Classic Cleaners were fined for breaches of COSHH and the infringement of the Cooling Tower Regulations, at a cost of £6000 (US$9000).
For more information visit: www.hse.gov.uk/policy/enforce.pdf
