Fat-cat scapegoats

Joyston-Bechal, S.

Fat-cat scapegoats - 2005 - Building 270(8369) 18 February 2005, 54(1) .

Comments on the second reading of a new Bill coming before parliament, the Health and Safety (Directors Duties) Bill, which seeks to bring in a corporate killing offence. The Bill seeks to amend the Companies Act 1985 by requiring all directors to take reasonable steps to ensure the company complies with health and safety laws. It is planned that larger companies would have to nominate one of their directors as a health and safety information director but this will not affect small and medium companies. Argues that although this Bill has popular appeal it could create problems as smaller companies have a higher accident rate per employee. The government may support the Bill as it would concentrate on private sector directors of larger companies and avoid corporate killing legislation which would apply to its own department and ministers.


CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER
HEALTH AND SAFETY (DIRECTORS' DUTIES) BILL
COMPANIES ACT 1985
ACCIDENTS AT WORK