FINANCE
Larger fines for health and safety breaches
Last month, prosecutions of two major UK companies demonstrated the significance of recent changes in sentencing guidelines to be applied by courts in England and Wales for health and safety offences. Over the past two years, the British Safety
Council has argued that changes to the sentencing guidelines would result in significantly greater fines. Neal Stone, Policy and Standards Director at
the British Safety Council, said that the changes have been a long time coming.
‘Travis Perkins was fined £2m and Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions was fined £2.6m following convictions for breaches of health and safety law’
“The conviction of Travis Perkins,
at Aylesbury Crown Court, following the death of Mark Pointer in
Neal Stone of the British Safety Council
November 2012, together with the conviction of Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, at Preston Crown Court, following the death of James Sim in April 2010, provide clear evidence that the courts are getting tough with organisations which are found guilty of serious breaches of health and safety law. “The possibility of significantly
larger fines is now a reality. Rightly so. Travis Perkins was fined £2m and Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions was fined £2.6m following convictions for
breaches of health and safety law. “The warning signs from the courts have been there for some time. Senior judges, including the Lord Chief Justice, have argued that changes in sentencing practice were much needed.” The British Safety Council
has acceded that large fines for health and safety breaches could put firms at risk of closure. Neal added: “The British Safety Council trusts the courts to apply the sanctions wisely.”
Going to work with a hangover
Midlands workers are among the most likely to allow drinking to have an impact on their workplace productivity, research has revealed. Just over a third (36%) of
Midlands workers have gone to work with a hangover that has caused them to be less productive in the past 12 months - seven per cent having done so 30 times or more. According to the study of
1,197 workers, commissioned by Willis PMI Group, London workers topped the list with figures of 50% and 25% respectively. “The health dangers of
excessive alcohol consumption have been well publicised, but the impact of lost productivity on businesses is often overlooked,” said Mike Blake, Director at Willis PMI Group. “Employers would be wise
to address the issue by reviewing their workplace culture and conditions to ensure they’re not inadvertently stoking the flames of alcohol misuse.”
business network June 2016 49
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