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RUSSELL HILL
Member - 34 posts
THE CHILTERN SUN
SUCCESSFUL LOCAL BUSINESS GOES UNDER
Today 46 local men and women are looking for a new job. This is due to the well known local firm Batty & Sons filing for bankruptcy. It all started three months ago when salesmen Joe King was involved in a road traffic accident which led to the death of local table tennis legend Mr. Ping Pong. After the accident local police backed up by the Health & Safety executive pressed charges under the New Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007. The company were found guilty due to the negligence of its senior management. The prosecution case was based around the fact that Mr. King was driving a vehicle that was not his own but borrowed from a work colleague. The car was found to have defective brakes and had not been properly serviced or maintained. In addition to the defective car Mr King like over 200,000 other drivers every year had reached 12 points on his licence and was actually disqualified from driving at the time of the fatal crash.
The company were fined a total of 10% of their annual turnover plus costs and will be made to advertise their case on local radio and local papers. Asked about the incident Managing Director Doug Hole said “I’m surprised at this judgement as I had not really heard much about the Corporate Manslaughter laws until 3 months ago. I was busy trying to provide work for my staff. “I take Health & Safety into account around the factory and office but didn’t really give a thought to staff that drive on business, let alone the consequences of one of them being involved in a traffic accident.” Human resources manager Isla Pratt added that she was “getting around to checking all the drivers and their cars but thought she had more important tasks to do”. Asked about the accident Mr King who is now being prosecuted under other Health & Safety legislation replied. “Of course I regret my actions but I needed the job to keep my family. I knew the company systems were not in place and thought I could get away with it long enough for some of my points to come off. I am now being shunned by my work colleagues as well as the guilt of knowing I have killed someone. The accident wasn’t even my fault, all I did was swerve to miss another car and unfortunately Mr. Pong was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
I hope you have realised this is not real (yet) and any simularity to anyone is not intended to cause offence. But it does make you think, as well as smile I hope.
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Stephen Martin
Member - 8 posts
So those who had nothing whatever to do with the accident are being forced to pay for it with their jobs. There is something in this that doesn't quite add up, or is it me placing too much emphasis on common sense?
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RUSSELL HILL
Member - 34 posts
Lets hope not. A company cant be punished if it is taking reasonable steps to manage risks. Driving is one of the biggest risks in all companies. At present apathy rules regarding workplace driving and companies need to take it seriously. As for common sense, well I think it is common sense for managers to ensure all drivers are legal and vehicles are fit for purpose.
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