| New Corporate Manslaughter Fines Set to come into effect 15th Feb 2010 |
| Feb 2010 |
Companies and organisations convicted of corporate manslaughter could face fines up to millions of pounds under new guidelines that have been published.
The guidance, drawn up by The Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC), states that those found guilty of corporate manslaughter should rarely face fines under £500,000.
Other health and safety offences that cause death should command fines which start at £100,000, it said.
The guidelines said the level of fine should not be influenced by the impact on shareholders and directors, nor consider the cost of complying with other sanctions.
However, the financial circumstances of the offending firm should be taking into account when deciding the level of fine, as should the effect on the firm's employees and provision of services to the public, the SGC said.
Factors such as the forseeability of serious injury, whether non-compliance was common and widespread in the firm, and how high up the company responsibility for the breach went, could increase the seriousness of the offence, it said.
The guidelines come into effect from 15 February.
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| New H & S E Safety Alert - Self Hoist fatality in Care Homes |
| Jan 2010 |
Following a recent fatality where an individual was using a hoist designed to be used with an attendant, by themselves, A safety alert has been issued by the H & S Exec.
Care homes, are your hoists in compliance?
Clinics, Doctor's Surgery's, Day Centres, do you have hoists?
Are they legislated by LOLER Regs ??
Contact Patrick Haines for advice and a visual check and report....
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| Do you 'Tell' your staff how to be safe??? |
| Jan 2010 |
How about asking them......?
You may be surprised....Sure, there may be a few disgruntled whinges, but very quickly, your people will be letting you know how they can do their job more safely.
And who knows better..? They're the people doing the job, so perhaps they do know what PPE could be improved, where machinery would be better placed, and how the workflow can be made simpler.....
Go on, try it, you've nothing to lose....... Well, only staff who leave and move on to a better place to work, oh, yes, and money and lost production, and fines to pay......
Contact Patrick Haines to see how to engage your staff in managing their own safety, and how by taking ownership of their own safety, this will lead to a better business financially, legally and most importantly, SAFELY......
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| What costs over £1,000 per foot?? |
| Jan 2010 |
Failing to adequately assess and mitigate risk is what?
An employer was recently fined £11,000 plus £3,000 costs when an employee fell 10 feet and suffered extensive injuries, and the financial cost is not the big picture here. The employee was seriously injured and cannot work again, a young man with family.
Risk Assessments and good safety practice is a good investment in your people, your business and your peace of mind.
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| Employers, do you run a vehicle fleet? |
| Nov 2009 |
Are your vehicles ready for winter?...are your drivers prepared for inclement weather?...
A company vehicle is a 'Workplace', just like any other so both you and your drivers have responsibilities, ask now for guidance, from a simple daily checks system right up to Driver Training !!
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