Corporate Manslaughter Act Comes Into Force (April 06, 2008)
After years of campaigning by Trade Unions and Health & Saftey campaigners the Corporate Manslughter Act finally comes into force on Sunday 6th April 2008.
Successive high profile fatal accidents in the workplace have led to renewed calls for changes in the law following failed prosecutions against large companies and against individuals for manslaughter.
In essence, the new law makes it easier to convict organisations whose senior managers have breached their duty of care, causing death.
Previously, prosecutions have failed against all but the smallest companies, so the new act could potentially see a dramatic rise in the number of corporate manslaughter cases against businesses of all sizes.
Of the major changes, the new Act holds all employers accountable for the actions and decisions of their senior managers, rather than one single individual, which was perceived to be the key failure under the current law.
The Government says in its guidance that it only expects the new law to be applied to the most serious and obvious cases and that organisations with good safety policies have nothing to fear.
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