New health and safety bill continues through House of Lords

The Health and Safety (Offences) Bill has now reached the committee stage in the House of Lords, where it will be given a detailed examination on 18 July 2008.

The Bill, which would raise the maximum fines and make prison an option for health and safety offences, received widespread support in the House of Commons. This support is expected to continue in the House of Lords.  

In the Bill’s second reading earlier in the week, however, the Lords raised concerns about the option of imprisonment. Keith Hill, MP behind the Bill, has previously told Workplace Law Network that prison would be an option for those who have committed grievous health and safety crimes, which are currently only punishable by a fine:

“There has been, unfortunately and sadly, a succession of cases of cowboy gas fitters whose botched work has led to deaths as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, there have been gas explosions in coal mines as a result of criminal negligence on the part of managers, and people have been illegally involved in asbestos stripping.

“For a whole range of cases it has been found that all that was available to the courts under the existing legislation were fines.”

It is the fifth time a Bill to raise the level of punishment for health and safety offences has been introduced to Parliament, but the first time such a Bill looks set to become law.

To hear Workplace Law Network’s interview with Keith Hill MP, click here »