CCA urges HSC to introduce duties on directors

Legal reform would be more effective than further voluntary guidance in changing the conduct of directors, campaigning charity the Centre for Corporate Accountability (CCA) has claimed in a letter sent to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC).

Last year the HSC decided not to introduce specific safety duties on directors, on the basis that other developments such as alternative penalties had the potential “to drive improved director focus”. But the CCA points to international and UK research suggesting that legal change would have the greatest effect on directors’ conduct.

The letter can be downloaded from www.corporateaccountability.org/dl/Directors/volunt07/directdutieshscmay07.pdf