Last month Allianz reported on the impact that the new health and safety sentencing guidelines are having on offenders in the motor industry, but it's important to keep in mind that they apply to all industries.
Previously, prison sentences were possible for individuals convicted of serious offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act, but organisations could only be given a fine. The new guidelines directly link sentences to the turnover of organisations, and increase the focus on harm risked as well as the harm caused.
The changes are potentially one of the most significant developments in Health and Safety law in 40 years and they’ve already resulted in numerous convictions and a steep rise in the level of fines - with 19 fines of £1 million or more in 2016, compared to three in 20151.
All workers are entitled to work in environments where health and safety risks are properly managed and controlled. The below instances demonstrate how the new sentencing guidelines are delivering more impactful sentences on businesses that breach regulations set out under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Read more about the impact of the new sentencing guidelines
1 'Steep rise in health and safety fines', Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), 27 January 2017.
