HSE Report Backs Corporate Killing Law

A corporate killing law would provide "powerful deterrence" and prevent workplace deaths, a report for the HSE has concluded. The HSE-backed research report 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, The role of managerial leadership in determining workplace safety outcomes, concludes HSE’s success as an enforcement agency "is likely to be strengthened further by the [proposed] legislation on corporate manslaughter."

David Bergman, director of the Centre for Corporate Accountability, commented: "This 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."
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