Work accident news
14/01/2009

New health and safety laws get tough with careless workers

Breaches of health and safety legislation that contribute to the risk of a work accident could see careless workers and employers receiving a jail sentence when new rules come into force on 16th January 2009.

The Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 introduces custodial sentences of up to two years and could see workers facing incarceration for safety breaches even if no accident or workplace injury occurs as a result of their actions.

The Labour MP who proposed the bill, made assurances that jail terms would only be considered in the most serious "public outrage" cases and it is hoped that the new laws will encourage businesses - employers and employees alike to pay more attention to health and safety matters in the workplace.

According to the British Safety Council, an independent watchdog, 229 people were killed in workplace accidents in the UK last year.

A health and safety lawyer commented, "Breaking even the most minor health and safety laws can lead to prosecution. It could be anything from failing to take responsible care for others' lives to supervisory roles such as carrying out risk assessments."

"If a forklift truck driver is shifting things around a yard and he's properly trained but larks around or drives carelessly he risks prosecution. Just the risk is enough, there doesn't need to be an accident or an injured person."

He added, "We are putting workers on the same level as muggers and robbers. The new power means that a careless forklift truck driver is more likely to go to prison than a mugger with a troubled upbringing,"

A spokesperson for the Federation of Small Businesses said of the new work accident legislation, "Health and safety is an extremely important matter but these new laws are over-prescriptive. It creates a situation where shoplifters get fixed penalty notices and shopkeepers go to prison."