Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Call to tighten work death laws
28th April 2005
Stricter Laws needed on Corporate Manslaughter
The Legal Line’s specialist personal injury lawyers, Thompsons Solicitors have called for the government to bring in stricter laws on corporate manslaughter and have coincided this with Workers’ Memorial Day, which remembers those, killed at work.
A representative from Thompsons Solicitors said that they want a draft bill, which fell due to lack of time before the election to be resurrected and amended as the draft bill in the form it was originally presented would be unlikely to have any significant impact on accidents and deaths without being amended.
The firm is also calling for increased resources for the Health and Safety Executive and wants higher fines introducing for those convicted of corporate manslaughter, including fines linked to profitability and a legal duty on directors to comply with the health and safety legislation.
Unnecessary Deaths at Work
According to Thompsons in the five years leading up to 2004, there were 2,157 deaths at work in the United Kingdom.
In 2003/2004 alone, there were 233 fatal injuries, which is an increase of 4% on the previous year.
Mick Antoniw from Thompsons Solicitors’ Cardiff office said “We welcome the proposal by the government to bring in a new law on corporate manslaughter; however, the legislation will need to be much stronger if it is to be effective, as the draft bill as it stands provides only the bare minimum to justify calling it a corporate manslaughter bill. It creates the offence only. There will need to be a significant increase in fines and penalties against employers who through their negligence cause death or injury in the workplace”.
Employers Liability
In April 2003, 17 year old Daniel Dennis from Bridgend was in the second week of his very first job, working as a roofing contractor. Daniel was provided with no training when he started his job, despite his lack of experience and fell through a skylight. Daniel died after suffering a severe head injury and internal bleeding.
In March 2005, an inquest found that Daniel’s death was an unlawful killing and the case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether a case could be brought for corporate manslaughter.
If you have had an accident at work or one of your relatives has been killed as a result of an accident at work, you may be able make a personal injury compensation claim. Telephone The Legal Line for advice on 0800 032 8511, send an e-mail to info@thelegalline.co.uk or complete one of our online compensation claim forms.
If you would like to read the full story above reported by the BBC, see below or visit the BBC website.
Call to tighten work death laws
A firm of personal injury lawyers is calling on the next UK government to bring in stricter laws on corporate manslaughter.
Thompsons Solicitors made the call to co-incide with Workers' Memorial Day, which remembers those killed at work.
It wants a draft bill, which fell due to lack of time before the election, to be resurrected and amended.
Cardiff solicitor Mick Antoniw called for a "significant increase" in penalties against negligent employers.
Thompsons wants higher fines for convictions for corporate manslaughter, including fines linked to profitability, and a legal duty on directors to comply with health and safety legislation.
It said the draft bill in the form it was originally presented would be unlikely to have any significant impact on accidents and deaths without being amended.
The firm is also calling for increased resources for the Health and Safety Executive.
In the past five years to 2004, according to Thompsons, there have been 2,157 deaths at work.
In 2003/4 there were 233 fatal injuries, an increase of 4% on the previous year.
Mr Antoniw said: "We welcome the proposal by the government to bring in a new law of corporate manslaughter.
Training
"However, the legislation will need to be much stronger if it is to be effective, as the draft bill as it stands provides only the bare minimum to justify calling it a corporate manslaughter bill. "It creates the offence only. There will need to be a significant increase in fines and penalties against employers who through their negligence cause death or injury in the workplace."
He cited the case of 17-year-old Daniel Dennis from Bridgend, who was killed at work in an accident in April 2003 in Cwmbran.
Daniel was in the second week at work in his first job working for a roofing contractor.
He had no training or experience in working at height, and was killed falling through a skylight.
An inquest jury in March returned a finding of unlawful killing. His case is now being referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Daniel's parents Peter and Anthea Dennis have called for stronger penalties for companies found responsible for deaths and injuries at work.
Mr Dennis said it was hard to live without Daniel, who had enjoyed his first few days of work. "He didn't stop talking when he came home, what he was going to do, how much money he was can earn," he said. "I can remember my wife phoning me in work and as soon as she said Daniel, I knew - he was in intensive care and he had a very severe head injury and he had internal bleeding but they couldn't stablise him."
Mrs Dennis said that living without Daniel was "an existence" she got used to. "It's not the life you had before and it never will be," she said.
Contact us
Testimonials
"It wasn't realistic for me to work any more and the loss of my income placed an additional strain on us."
Jane Evans
Mother of Rebecca
Personal Injury News
