Quarter of businesses fear safety prosecution
May 20th 2009
Research carried out by the Forum of Private Businesses (FPB) has found that a quarter of businesses fear being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Other findings include:
- 56% of respondents said they try to comply with health and safety laws in order to improve safety for their staff
- small business owners spend, on average, 14 hours per month filling-in forms specifically relating to health and safety
The FPB's Chief Executive, Phil Orford, believes that minimising health and safety costs could make it easier for small businesses, hit by declining markets, credit restrictions and poor payment by bigger companies, to comply with the legislation.
FPB Representative, Martin Mulholland, said that health and safety breaches are now being treated as seriously as other criminal offences. He urged small businesses to take health and safety seriously.
“For those companies which are already committing sufficient resources to ensuring their operations are undertaken in ways that are safe, and without risk to the health and safety of their employees and others who may be affected, there should be no undue concern”, said Mr Mulholland.
The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act came into force on 6 April 2008. Penalties include unlimited fines, remedial orders and publicity orders.