Report argues need for corporate killing law

An HSE-commissioned report has called for the introduction of legislation to punish negligent bosses when workers are killed at work.

The report, The role of managerial leadership in determining workplace safety outcomes, was prepared by researchers at Aberdeen University. It says new corporate manslaughter legislation "should act as a powerful deterrent to help prevent needless injuries and deaths whilst at the same time punishing the grossly negligent."

The report concludes that the HSE's success as an enforcement agency "is likely to be strengthened further by legislation on corporate manslaughter."

David Bergman, director of the Centre for Corporate Accountability, said: "This report is further evidence why the government needs to bring a bill before parliament that would allow the enactment of a new offence of corporate killing."

He added: "There is a current gap in the law so that company directors have no duty to take reasonable steps to ensure that their companies comply with health and safety law. This allows them to insulate themselves from safety issues in the company."

The report (RR044) is available free from www.hse.gov.uk