Punishment 'to be harsher' for health and safety breaches

Modifications to the Health and Safety (Offences) Bill will increase the punishments which can be handed out due to breaches of regulations, a source reveals.

According to the Press Association, prison sentences will become available for serious breaches of rules established by the Health and Safety Executive.

It will also allow those judging cases to order maximum fines, which the news provider suggests is a reaction to criticism over what have been held to be "'derisory' penalties".

President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Ray Hurst claims the option to offer more serious punishments in the case of health and safety breaches is a welcome move.

"We believe the current fines handed out for health and safety offences do not reflect the gravity of the crimes being committed," he tells the source.

One of the bill's key changes to section 33 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 will be to make certain cases triable in the higher courts.