Court Cases News
Garage ignored prohibition notice
Monday, May 24th, 2010
Garage ignored prohibition notice
The Garage Bow Street Ltd, of Rugeley, Staffs, now no longer trading, has pleaded guilty to breaching S.33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc and has been given a conditional discharge for 6 months but must pay £500 towards costs.
The prosecution arose after it ignored a prohibition order requiring [...]
Electrician electrocuted when power to washing machine was left on
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
A young electrician working for SF (UK) Ltd (trading as British Gas) was killed whilst repairing a washing machine motor fault on a residential call out. The power to the machine had not been isolated. The deceased had only been working for the company for five weeks when the incident occurred; although he [...]
First prosecution under the new corporate manslaughter legislation underway
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
The first corporate body to fall foul of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 has been named. The company, from gloucester, is called Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Ltd. The charges relate to the death of a young geoplogist.
Isolation failure leads to groundworker receiving electric shock
Monday, August 24th, 2009
South Eastern Electrical Plc was fined £50,000 for an incident in which a groundworks subcontractor suffered and electric shock. He came into contact with a live cable during operations. He was knocked unconscious for a while and suffered burns and bruising.
The Inspector’s comment in this case was;”The risks of working with electricity are [...]
Company Director Imprisoned for one year
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
The director of a construction company, has been sent to prision for a year after a worker he was employing illegally died after falling through a skylight. He was charged with manslaughter after a joint investigation by the Norfolk Constabulary and the Health and Safety Executive
Health and Safety Offences Bill – progress
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
Having gone through the House of Commons with an unopposed third reading the Health and Safety Offences Bill has now progressed to it’s first reading in the Lords. Among the aims of the Bill is to increase the maximum level of fines in the Magistrates Courts and to make imprisonment available as an option [...]
Recent Legal Ruling Sets A Precedent
Monday, February 18th, 2008
A recent ruling at the Court of Appeal on the criminal liability of directors will have implications for company directors,as well as those enforcing health and safety law. Michael Atkins from HSE’s Legal Adviser’ Office explains:”We were prosecuting a company director over the death of a six-year-old. Before the trial defence lawyers wanted [...]
Additional fines set to face Company Directors
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
Launching the new guidelines, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission Judith Hackett, stressed the importance of boardroom engagement with the issue. She said ” To improve our safety record we need strong and committed leadership that focuses on the real causes of harm in the workplace”
In addition to fines under the Corporate Manslaughter [...]
Corporate Manslaughter Act set for April 2008
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
The Corporate Manslaughter Act, which comes into force in April 2008, was described by Open University law professor as; “one of the biggest legislative changes to corporate responsibility since the principles of the modern company were crystalilised in 1373.” In November the Sentencing Advisory Panel proposed that firms convicted of the new offence could [...]
Health & Safety Enforcements on the rise
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
The number of enforcement and improvement notices issued against employers by the Health and Safety Executive rose by 20% last year and fines totalling £13m were handed out by the courts to offenders. A HSE spokesperson said ” We do not hesitate to prosecute where necessary and the rising enforcement figures show that negligence in [...]