First corporate manslaughter charge issued
April 24, 2009
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised the first application of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.
Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings has been charged with corporate manslaughter, following the death of a worker in September 2008.
In the health and safety incident, Alexander Wright, who was employed as a junior geologist by the firm, was crushed to death when a pit he was taking soil samples from for a site survey collapsed on him.
Peter Eaton, a director of the company, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The company has also been charged with failing to discharge a duty contrary of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Mr Eaton will appear art Stroud Magistrates Court on June 17th, to face the charges as both as an individual and on behalf of Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings.
Commenting, Kate Leonard, reviewing lawyer for the CPS's special crime division, explained: "Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, an organisation is guilty of corporate manslaughter if the way in which its activities are managed or organised causes a death and amounts to a gross breach of a duty of care to the person who died."
Earlier this year, Colin Cooper, owner and director of East Sussex firm IC Roofing Ltd, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for gross negligence manslaughter, after an employee was killed in 2007 while working at height.
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Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings has been charged with corporate manslaughter, following the death of a worker in September 2008.
In the health and safety incident, Alexander Wright, who was employed as a junior geologist by the firm, was crushed to death when a pit he was taking soil samples from for a site survey collapsed on him.
Peter Eaton, a director of the company, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The company has also been charged with failing to discharge a duty contrary of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Mr Eaton will appear art Stroud Magistrates Court on June 17th, to face the charges as both as an individual and on behalf of Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings.
Commenting, Kate Leonard, reviewing lawyer for the CPS's special crime division, explained: "Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, an organisation is guilty of corporate manslaughter if the way in which its activities are managed or organised causes a death and amounts to a gross breach of a duty of care to the person who died."
Earlier this year, Colin Cooper, owner and director of East Sussex firm IC Roofing Ltd, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for gross negligence manslaughter, after an employee was killed in 2007 while working at height.
Find out more about conducting a Risk Assessment
More Corporate manslaughter news:
Corporate manslaughter understanding 'will come from case' - April 29, 2009Firms 'can avoid corporate manslaughter' - March 24, 2009
Road accidents 'can cause corporate manslaughter cases' - February 4, 2009
Essex councils join HSE in 'myth busting' - October 15, 2008
Good leadership 'required for workplace safety' - September 25, 2008
