Fines Increase2012|2011
Background to Bill:
The Health and Safety (Offences) Bill had its first reading in the Commons on 5th December 2007. It was subsequently read for a second time on 1st February 2008.
The Bill was introduced as a Private Member’s Bill by Keith Hill (Lab, Streatham) and seeks to revise the system of penalties applicable to certain offences relating to health and safety.
The Bill proposes to raise the maximum fine that may be imposed in the lower courts to £20,000 for most offences; to make imprisonment an option for most offences in both the lower and the higher courts; and to increase powers to make certain offences triable in both the lower and higher courts.
The changes in the Bill were first proposed following a joint review of the current maximum penalties for health and safety offences, which was carried out between February and September 1999 by the Home Office, the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Health and Safety Executive.
Fines for breach of statutory regulations are to rise to £20000 per breach in the courts bringing even more pressure on company procedures and compliance belows ruling would have increased penaltys under proposed rulings
HSE fines fruit packer over injured worker
Fruit packing company Cross & Wells was fined £3,000 yesterday (23 June) for worker injury after an employee sustained injuries at its Sittingbourne premises in October 2006.
The company was also ordered to pay £3,422 in costs after employee Magdalena Osuchowska fell from a platform, which in turn fell from the forks of a forklift truck that was being driven by an unauthorised driver.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector David Fussell said it is "essential for employees to have safe working procedures for working at height" and that we must "learn from the experiences of others".
The HSE has "always been available to give advice", he added, so there is "simply no excuse for employers to plead ignorance of good health and safety practice".
John Counsell, managing director designate of Cross & Wells, told Packaging News: "All staff at Cross & Wells undergo an extensive induction training programme when joining the company and ongoing training is provided throughout their time with the company.
"This means that all staff are fully aware of the correct procedures to follow when carrying out maintenance tasks or working with any equipment or machinery, although unfortunately the company's procedures were not followed on this occasion."