Employers unprepared for corporate manslaughter changes

Nearly eight out of ten businesses are unprepared and unaware of the changes in legislation being brought in by the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, according to new research.

Findings from Peninsula revealed that 79 per cent of bosses admitted to not being ready for the changes.

Noel Pilling, health and safety director at Peninsula, said: "The new act clarifies the criminal liabilities of companies where serious failures in management of health and safety result in fatality.

He added that businesses everywhere will need to "ensure that health and safety procedures are up to date, reviewed on a regular basis and strictly enforced."

Companies have been advised to appoint an official at senior level who can act both responsibly and reasonably for corporate health and safety.

Senior managers could face jail for lapses in safety policy which lead to staff fatalities after the act comes into effect on April 6th.

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