New Corporate Health and Safety Bill Presented for Discussion
A previous call for bringing the onus for employee safety and health onto the top level management of employing organisations has been renewed with a new bill making the rounds. This new bill has originated from a Labour MP who is asking for serious measures to be put in place in this regard.
The Bill has been outlined by Frank Doran, the MP from Aberdeen North. His Health and Safety (Company Director’s Liability) Bill has already been discussed in the House of Commons recently. Mr Doran has explained his reasons for bringing out this Bill saying that the existing regulations which seek to shift the responsibility for employee safety on to company directors is a good start, but is not effective enough to prompt the necessary changes within company environments.
He said that with the implementation of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, which came into effect in April 2008, directors are now well aware of their responsibilities and the legal support for employees in case of workplace accidents. However, there were no specified duties or restrictions imposed on Directors within which they must carry out certain critical safety related duties. The new Bill aims to fill in this lacuna, he said.
MP Doran also pointed out the inefficacy of the code of practice which has been in force since it was brought into force by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2001. He said that while the code was accepted by organisations not many have actually implemented the requirements contained therein.
In fact, HSE studies have shown the need for a structured legal framework of rules which will become mandatory for companies to acknowledge and incorporate into their hierarchy. This Bill will put employees of all cadres in the same platform where health and safety responsibilities are concerned, he said.
Employee unions have welcomed the new bill which is expected to get a second reading in April this year.
